New 'English Premier League' details emerge as Hundred at risk of being scrapped

28 April 2023 , 17:57

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The Hundred could be scrapped (Image: Gareth Copley - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

The ECB could axe The Hundred altogether and replace it with a new T20 competition amid concerns over the 100-ball format.

Both the Daily Mail and the Cricketer claim the competition is under threat, with discussions ongoing about potentially turning it into a T20 tournament instead. The Hundred has proved a controversial competition, with detractors critical of it being a format only played in England and the potential impact on county cricket.

However, it has undoubtedly elevated women's cricket and also helped attract new fans, largely thanks to the tournament being played at the height of summer and ticket prices being more affordable.

The financial success, however, has been disputed with the ECB insisting it made a profit of £11.8m over the first two season, but a separate report from Worcestershire chair and chartered accountant Fanos Hira claiming it actually lost £9m.

Notably, new ECB chiefs Richard Gould and Richard Thompson both opposed The Hundred when they were in charge at Surrey, although both have since publicly softened their stance since joining the ECB.

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And a new report from the Telegraph has revealed The Hundred could be rebranded as the English Premier League and be expanded from eight teams to 18. It is claimed the existing team names would remain, with each of the 18 counties getting to host a franchise.

England stars Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes played for Welsh Fire and Northern Superchargers in the first year of The Hundred (Ashley Allen - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

The new tournament would have two divisions, with eight teams playing in the English Premier League and ten in Division One. Promotion and relegation would also be introduced. The report states that the women's tournament would continue to be played concurrently to the men's, but may only have eight teams involved in the Premier League initially before expanding.

The ECB would want to ensure the franchises remain completely separate from the counties, allowing them to source private investment in a bid to ensure the tournament remains as lucrative as some of its rivals with new T20 competitions recently getting launched in the UAE, South Africa and America.

Saudi Arabia are also said to be planning a new lucrative cricket league, while around six current England players have reportedly been approached to sign full-time deals with IPL teams and forgo their central contracts according to the Times. And as a result, it is claimed the ECB view private investment and ownership as key to generating more money in a bid to safeguard the sport.

Matthew Cooper