Amidst the rising popularity of different T20 leagues worldwide, England has also come up with one. But this one is a bit different. Instead of the standard 120 balls, fans will see a total of 100 balls being bowled. Sounds interesting? Definitely. Cricket is an evolving game, and it is exciting to see yet another format. Let us have a look at different aspects of the tournament.
History
The English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was the first to propose the league in late 2016. It was suggested to be a city-based contest where each city was promised £1.3M per year. The cricket league was approved with a comfortable margin of votes.
Some counties like Essex and Middlesex had some concerns. Essex had a woe that the league would not be able to represent different areas of the country since it had fewer sides. Middlesex did not have its own home ground, so it also had doubts about the Lord’s use.
Format
The 100 Cricket Tournament was earlier sought to be a Twenty20 tournament, but there was a plan change. It was thought to attract new fans; a new format would be helpful. In April 2018, ECB announced that the new structure would consist of two innings having 100 balls each.
These 100 balls would be divided into 15 traditional six-ball overs and a final 10-ball over. But this was changed later, and the following final format was given:
One inning with 100 balls.
Batsmen will rotate strike after ten balls.
Bowlers have the option of either delivering five or ten consecutive balls.
No bowler can bowl more than 20 balls per game.
A strategic timeout of two and a half minutes, similar to the IPL.
A 25-ball powerplay for each side at the start of the innings.
No more than two fielders can stand outside the 30-yard circle.
Teams have the call to have a timeout.
The scoreboard will be a simple affair.
Tournament Structure
The cricket league will see a total of eight city-based teams vying for the title. The tournament will run for 38 days during summer vacations, which are from mid-July to early September. Each team will play eight matches, out of which four they will play at home and four away. This implies that there will be a total of 32 games before the play-offs.
The top three teams will make it to the play-offs. The team at the top of the points table will reach the final. The second and third teams will contend for a spot in the finals. The semi-final and final will be on the same day and same venue.
The league was scheduled to start in 2020, but due to the pandemic, ECB postponed it to 2021. We hope that the league produces some quality cricket and some fresh talent. Can The 100 be as successful as its counterparts like IPL, BBL, CPL, PSL, etc.? Only time can tell.
Written By - Abdullah Shamsi
Edited By - Dana Asnan
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