The Hundred

Another win for Welsh Fire over Southern Brave tonight captained by Bairstow who won the player of the match for his 72 off 39. I really hope that he makes the Test side & not waste the form that he's in with no cricket.

I just can't get enthused about this Hundred competition. Something about it just makes me all .
Too much like a bloody gravy train

On Saturday my adopted team, the Oval Invincibles, gave so many runs away in misfields that they lost a match they could easily have won. Jason Roy said 'our fielding was slightly sloppy' which I thought was one of the greatest understatements I've ever heard. The Northern Superchargers beat us in the women's match too.

^^ On a pitch that most batsmen found hard to consistently time the ball, fielding was all important. My team, Northern Superchargers line-up didn't have an obvious poor or weak fielder, but the Invincibles had 2 or 3 that the batting side could take advantage of. Saying that even usually great fielders like Tom Curran made mistakes. One of the worst fielding displays I've seen for a while.
I didn't realize that hybrid pitches were being used at all the venues, (think that's the case). You have to feel, some sympathy for the groundsmen, but you would've thought that with a relatively short tournament like The Hundred, they would have enough fresh pitches.

I'm finding it hard that the teams are not the county players. Like Manchester have some Lancs players but also have a Surrey fast bowler. Yet on the opposition team is Lancs pace bowler.

I remember playing in a 20 over mixed league.
No one could bowl more than 2 overs. So nearly everyone had to bowl.

Maybe they could have used a simular format.

Nice little cameo from Somerset's Will Smeed last night for Birmingham Rockets, 36 from 13 balls. educated at King's College, Taunton as were Buttler & Banton. He's built quite a reputation in a short while & I can see why, some powerful hitting on display.

The dream-team of Shane Warne & Eoin Morgan with London Spirit, aren't exactly pulling up any trees, winless from 4 games with one match rained off, they are propping up the bottom of the table. On Sunday Warne reported unwell before their game against Southern Brave, & is now in isolation after a positive covid test.

When it was first announced, I wasn't keen but have seen a few matches and really enjoy it!
Wonder what it means for the 50 over game....

It's already had an impact on the domestic 50 over comp, with 30% of the best players being unavailable with the Royal London Cup (50 overs) being run along side the Hundred. The knock-on effect at International 50 over level will mean that our very best players wont be playing any 50 over cricket. In was once thought that the 50 over game was closest to First Class cricket, be it 4 or 5 days. Now the 50 over game is believed to be closer to the T20 format, so the ECB are happy to pick T20 players in 50 over Internationals. With the Royal London demoted top a 2nd team comp, maybe the Blast will be more under threat, perhaps less matches. I can't see the Hundred staying with an 8 match group stage, if it takes off, or the ECB get greedy, it may increase, to a 14 match schedule, this may depend on overseas players being available for longer.
It has been mentioned in the past that 3 formats at International level is too much, could the ECB be preparing for the loss of the longer form of white ball cricket ?

(02-08-2021 18:04 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  It's already had an impact on the domestic 50 over comp, with 30% of the best players being unavailable with the Royal London Cup (50 overs) being run along side the Hundred. The knock-on effect at International 50 over level will mean that our very best players wont be playing any 50 over cricket. In was once thought that the 50 over game was closest to First Class cricket, be it 4 or 5 days. Now the 50 over game is believed to be closer to the T20 format, so the ECB are happy to pick T20 players in 50 over Internationals. With the Royal London demoted top a 2nd team comp, maybe the Blast will be more under threat, perhaps less matches. I can't see the Hundred staying with an 8 match group stage, if it takes off, or the ECB get greedy, it may increase, to a 14 match schedule, this may depend on overseas players being available for longer.
It has been mentioned in the past that 3 formats at International level is too much, could the ECB be preparing for the loss of the longer form of white ball cricket ?

All a damning indictment on this 100 lark. The ECB are meant to be custodians of the English game, but seem to be prepared to sacrifice it in pursuit of the third point you raise around greed! Greed!! Ironic that it was thought that T20 was introduced for the same reason. If the hundred proves to be the cash cow, how long before the '70' '60' or even 10/10 as some rain effected matches become (only this time balls bowled not overs). They are a complete farce, and so is the general direction of travel for our once proud sport!

Sky completely wiping the RL of the map for this Hundred is thoroughly shameful. Even with that comp being played on tracks which make it little more than an elongated 20/20