Introduction to The Hundred Cricket Format
Monday 01 September 2025 9:22 am
Organisers of The Hundred sold nearly 600,000 tickets for this year’s competition, with viewing figures also up for the fifth edition of the controversial cricket format.
The Northern Superchargers beat the Southern Brave in the women’s final on Sunday in a match that drew 22,000 fans at Lord’s in north London.
The subsequent men’s final saw the Oval Invincibles win their third consecutive title, beating the Trent Rockets by 26 runs at the home of cricket.
And the England and Wales Cricket Board has this morning confirmed that 580,000 tickets were sold across this year’s competition – the first since a minimum 49 per cent stake was sold in each of the eight franchises to overseas investors.
Sky Sports’s audience, too, the ECB claim, was up on average 38 per cent compared to 2024, while “BBC Sport saw 2.2m online viewing requests for The Hundred in 2025, up on 1.6 million in 2024”.
Hundred managing director Vikram Banerjee said it was an “exciting time” for the competition, adding that “the aim of this competition from day one was to throw open cricket’s doors and bring more people into our game”.
Hundred Change Incoming
The fifth edition of the format, which is shorter than Twenty20 cricket by 40 balls, is set to undergo major change after a number of investors – mainly from India and the United States – acquired stakes in the eight franchises.
Some of those changes will be related to teams, with a number of franchises including the Manchester Originals, Oval Invincibles and Northern Superchargers touted for name changes.
Oval is set to become MI [Mumbai Indians] London once a deal with the mega-rich Ambani family is concluded, while Manchester will incorporate Super Giants into their name following investment from Lucknow Super Giants owners RPSG Group.
Elsewhere it has been touted that the Sun TV Network Limited-owned Superchargers could become Leeds Sunrisers.
Other changes could include the introduction of more Indian players – who currently cannot compete in the men’s competition – as well as format, structural, broadcast and sponsorship shifts.
Impact on the Game
The ECB states that 1.5m fans have watched the women’s competition live this year, while over 200,000 fans have purchased tickets to their first-ever cricket game during the 2025 season.
This increase in viewership and attendance is a positive sign for the game, indicating that The Hundred is attracting new fans and growing the sport.
The introduction of new investors and potential changes to the format could further increase the game’s popularity and attract even more fans.
What to Expect in the Future
With the changes incoming, fans can expect a fresh and exciting new era for The Hundred.
The introduction of new teams, players, and formats will bring a new level of competition and entertainment to the game.
As the game continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how The Hundred adapts and changes to meet the demands of its fans and the sport as a whole.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Hundred has seen a successful fifth edition, with increased ticket sales and viewing figures.
The incoming changes to the format and teams will bring a new level of excitement and competition to the game.
As the sport continues to grow and evolve, The Hundred is well-positioned to attract new fans and become a major player in the world of cricket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about The Hundred:
Q: What is The Hundred?
A: The Hundred is a professional cricket format that is shorter than Twenty20 cricket by 40 balls.
Q: How many teams are in The Hundred?
A: There are eight teams in The Hundred, each representing a different region of the UK.
Q: What are the changes incoming for The Hundred?
A: The changes include potential name changes for some teams, the introduction of new investors, and possible format and structural changes.
Q: How many fans have watched The Hundred this year?
A: According to the ECB, 1.5m fans have watched the women’s competition live this year, and over 200,000 fans have purchased tickets to their first-ever cricket game during the 2025 season.
