Simon Katich Not In Favor Of Holding 'The Hundred' Behind Closed Doors

The proliferation of the global pandemic that is the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] has put the entire world under a lockdown. And, the world of sports has been hugely affected with almost every tournament including Wimbledon, Olympics, Premier League put on the backburner as the world continues to grapple with the contagion that originated from the Wuhan city of China late last year.

As far as cricket is concerned, its Future Tour Programme has been messed up due to the cancellation and postponement of a plethora of tournaments. One of the marquee tournaments of the 2020 season was the newly drafted concept ‘The Hundred’- a brainchild of the ECB which was scheduled to take place between eight cities over a five-week period this English summer.

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Simon Katich on the playing ‘The Hundred’ behind closed doors

But with the steadily escalating situation thanks to COVID-19, ECB are muling over various alternative options. One of the options that have been doing the rounds is staging the tournament behind closed doors but former Australian cricketer and Manchester Originals coach Simon Katich feels that there is no point in holding the inaugural season behind closed doors.

“There has been a lot of speculation about the Hundred given that it’s a new tournament, that it probably doesn’t make any sense for it to be played in front of empty stadiums even if it was OK in that July window,” Simon Katich was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo

“So there has been speculation about it potentially being delayed to start until next season, which I’ve got no problem with, and a lot of people would probably think that’s the way to go if things keep tracking the way they are in the UK,” he added.

The newly created concept is a 100-ball per innings format. According to the playing conditions, each bowler can deliver a maximum of 20 balls per innings and each bowling side will get a strategic timeout of up to two and a half minutes.

The change of end will happen after ten balls and a bowler is permitted to deliver either five or ten consecutive deliveries. Moreover, the format will have a 25-ball powerplay where a maximum of two fielders will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle.

Also Read: ECB On Verge Of Calling Off The Hundred This Year