ECB plans to retain 'The Hundred' branding despite transition to T20 format

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is continuing its process to switch the Hundred into a Twenty20 format. According to a report in The Observer, the format will be returning to the traditional six-ball over format rather than the five-ball overs bowled in the Hundred.

The return is expected to be when the next television rights cycle starts in 2029. The ECB had announced the new format, The Hundred, in 2018, in which 100 balls are to be bowled each innings, divided into sets of 5 balls or 10 balls instead of a 6-ball over.

But a change into a more traditional T20 format is expected as the board prepares to sell its stakes in the eight franchises. However, any change in the format and conditions will require permission and support from ECB's television rights partner, Sky Sports, which was reluctant when this idea was brought up last year.

According to the reports Sky has already given a commitment to investing £375m in the Hundred over the first nine seasons, which will end in 2028. As a result, it is hesitant to change in plan now.

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ECB is considering keeping the Hundred name despite switching to the T20 format

Despite considering the switching of formats, the ECB is planning to keep the tournament's name and it might be enough to win its backing in an agreement.

“We have no plans to abandon the Hundred. Our plan is to grow the competition and build on its success, whatever the format," a reliable source who is involved in the discussions was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

The source further added that T20 is a global format that will also be an Olympic sport in Los Angeles in the year 2028. Thus, it was important to switch to this format.

“Hundred is a well-known cricketing term so keeping the competition’s name will not be a problem. It’s a really powerful brand that has attracted interest from all over the world. But T20 is the global format and will be an Olympic sport from 2028 so we have to explore that option,” the source added.

When Hundred was announced in 2018, the ECB had attracted lots of controversy with cricket supporters believing it would bring nothing new to the game of cricket and is almost similar to the T20 format. The Hundred was finally launched in 2021 after a delay of 12 months due to Covid.

Although the tournament has brought new advertisers and audiences, it has still not caught up with the rest of the world. The Women's Hundred, in particular, has grabbed several eyeballs from around the world and has brought a fair amount of success. The ECB's hopes of making the Hundred an Olympic sport in Los Angeles in 2028 have proved to be unrealistic.

ECB unable to attract Indian broadcasters for the Hundred

The board's inability to attract Indian players and broadcasters is also a major concern over its non-attention worldwide. India is a huge market when it comes to cricket and if ECB can attract Indian audiences, they can attract outside investment.

The idea of going back to T20 was floated by the ECB with the counties last year. The ECB is also planning to hand a 51% stake in each of their teams to their counties at the season's end, which will start with a double-header between Oval Invincibles and Birmingham Phoenix.

The ECB first floated reverting to T20 in discussions with the counties last year, an idea that has since solidified as part of its plans to attract outside investment to the Hundred.