What is The Hundred? Format, rules, teams and everything you need to know about cricket's 100-ball competition
The Hundred has quickly become one of the most distinctive competitions in world cricket.
Since its launch in 2021, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has sought to modernise the sport by creating a faster, simpler and more accessible format designed to attract both traditional cricket supporters and new audiences.
Played over just 100 balls per innings, The Hundred delivers high-intensity action, international stars and city-based rivalries in a tournament that has become a staple of the English summer.
With the 2026 edition underway, here's everything you need to know about how The Hundred works and why it has become one of cricket's most talked-about competitions.
What is The Hundred?
The Hundred is a professional franchise cricket competition featuring both men's and women's tournaments.
Unlike traditional formats, each team faces just 100 legal deliveries during its innings, creating shorter matches that typically last around two and a half hours.
The competition combines many of the world's leading international cricketers with England's top domestic talent, producing fast-paced contests that appeal to both experienced followers of the game and newcomers alike.
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Why was The Hundred created?
The ECB introduced The Hundred with several key objectives.
The primary aim was to simplify cricket's rules and create a format that would be easier for first-time viewers to understand.
By shortening matches and placing a greater emphasis on entertainment, organisers hoped to attract younger audiences, families and viewers who may not have previously followed cricket.
The tournament has also helped strengthen England's domestic game by bringing together international stars, improving commercial investment and increasing exposure for both the men's and women's competitions.
How does The Hundred work?
Although The Hundred shares similarities with T20 cricket, several rules set it apart.
100 balls per innings
Instead of the traditional six-ball over, each innings consists of exactly 100 legal deliveries.
The team that scores the most runs after its 100 balls wins the match.
Bowling in sets of five
Rather than bowling six-ball overs, bowlers deliver either five or 10 consecutive balls before another bowler takes over.
This creates greater tactical flexibility for captains while maintaining the fast pace of the game.
The Powerplay
The first 25 balls of each innings are played under Powerplay conditions, where only two fielders are allowed outside the inner fielding circle.
This encourages aggressive batting early in the innings and often leads to high-scoring starts.
Strategic timeout
Each innings includes a strategic timeout, allowing coaches and captains to reassess tactics and momentum before play resumes.
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How is The Hundred different from T20 cricket?
While both formats are designed to produce entertaining, high-scoring cricket, there are several notable differences.
The Hundred
100 balls per innings
Bowlers deliver five or 10 consecutive balls
Matches generally last around 2.5 hours
Simplified format for new audiences
T20 Cricket
120 balls (20 overs)
Bowlers deliver six-ball overs
Matches usually last around 3 hours
Traditional short-format cricket
These changes may appear subtle, but together they create a quicker, more streamlined version of the game.
Which teams compete in The Hundred?
The men's competition features eight city-based franchises:
MI London
London Spirit
Sunrisers Leeds
Trent Rockets
Manchester Super Giants
Southern Brave
Welsh Fire
Birmingham Phoenix
Each franchise also fields a women's team, with both competitions running alongside one another throughout the tournament.
Why has The Hundred become so popular?
Several factors have contributed to the tournament's growing popularity.
International stars from around the world compete alongside England's leading players, raising the overall standard of competition.
The shorter format makes matches easier to follow, while music, entertainment and fan-focused experiences have helped create a festival atmosphere at venues across England and Wales.
Recent investment from global franchise owners has further increased interest in the competition, strengthening squad depth and raising expectations for future editions.
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Betting on The Hundred
The Hundred also offers a wide range of betting opportunities throughout the tournament.
Popular markets include:
Match winner
Tournament winner
Top batter
Top bowler
Player performance markets
Over/under total runs
Because of the competition's short format, momentum can shift quickly, making team news, player availability and pitch conditions particularly important when analysing betting markets.
Final thoughts
The Hundred has introduced a fresh approach to professional cricket without abandoning the sport's core principles.
Its simplified rules, shorter matches and franchise structure have helped broaden cricket's appeal while providing supporters with a fast-paced tournament featuring many of the world's best players.
Whether you're watching for the first time, following your favourite franchise or analysing the betting markets, understanding how The Hundred works provides valuable context for one of the sport's most innovative competitions.
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