The 2021 The Hundred season was the inaugural season of The Hundred, a professional franchise 100-ball cricket tournament involving eight men's and women's teams located in major cities across United Kingdom. The tournament was run by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and took place for the first time, having been delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tournament gave equal weight to both men's and women's sides, with almost all the matches taking place as back-to-back double-headers at the same venue on the same day, with one ticket giving access to both the men's and women's games.
The women's Oval Invincibles and the men's Southern Brave were the inaugural champions.
Background Eight teams competed for the men's and women's titles over a month between 21 July and 21 August 2021, ensuring that the competition took place during the school summer holidays. Aside from the opening two fixtures featuring the Oval Invincibles vs the Manchester Originals, all men's and women's matches were held on the same day at the same grounds.
There were 64 matches in the league stage (32 men's, 32 women's). Each team played four matches at home and four matches away. This included one match against every other side and then a second bonus match against their nearest regional rivals.
Once the league stage was completed the top three teams competed in the knockout stage to decide the ultimate champions. The second and third teams met in a semi-final, which was played at the Oval. The winner of the semi-final then met the team that finished top of the league in the final at Lord's.
Teams and venues
The eight teams competing were newly created franchises, operating separately from the existing county cricket clubs. Each represented a large area of England and Wales, with venues chosen for their locations in major cities.
Team personnel was initially announced in 2019. When the tournament finally took place in 2021, Andy Flower replaced Stephen Fleming as the coach of Trent Rockets men and Jonathan Batty replaced Lydia Greenway as the coach of Oval Invincibles women before the start of the season. TeamVenueWomen's CoachMen's CoachBirmingham PhoenixEdgbaston, BirminghamBen SawyerAndrew McDonaldLondon SpiritLord's, LondonLisa KeightleyShane WarneManchester OriginalsOld Trafford, ManchesterPaul ShawSimon KatichNorthern SuperchargersHeadingley, LeedsDanielle HazellDarren LehmannOval InvinciblesThe Oval, LondonJonathan BattyTom MoodySouthern BraveRose Bowl, HampshireCharlotte EdwardsMahela JayawardeneTrent RocketsTrent Bridge, NottinghamSalliann BriggsAndy FlowerWelsh Fire()Sophia Gardens, CardiffMatthew MottGary Kirsten
Draft and signings
2019 Each squad was initially made up of 15 players, of whom a maximum of three could be overseas players.
For the men's competition, each franchise could choose one centrally contracted England Test player, with first refusal granted to franchises whose affiliated counties had one or more centrally contracted players in their squads.
Trent Rockets, London Spirit and Welsh Fire, having no centrally contracted players at their affiliated counties, were then allowed to select from the remaining England players.
For the men's teams, each franchise could choose two "local icons", high-profile players who represented one of their affiliated counties.
For the women's teams, each franchise had two centrally contracted players.
On 3 October 2019 the first players to be allocated to teams were announced. They were as follows: Team England women's central contracted players England men's central contract player Men's local icons Birmingham Phoenix Amy Jones, Kirstie Gordon Chris Woakes Moeen Ali, Pat Brown London Spirit Heather Knight, Freya Davies Rory Burns Eoin Morgan, Dan Lawrence Manchester Originals Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone Jos Buttler Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson Northern Superchargers Lauren Winfield, Linsey Smith Ben Stokes Adil Rashid, David Willey Oval Invincibles Laura Marsh, Fran Wilson Sam Curran Jason Roy, Tom Curran Southern Brave Anya Shrubsole, Danni Wyatt Jofra Archer James Vince, Chris Jordan Trent Rockets Nat Sciver, Katherine Brunt Joe Root Alex Hales, Harry Gurney Welsh Fire () Katie George, Bryony Smith Jonny Bairstow Tom Banton, Colin Ingram
Players for the women's teams were selected between October and 2019 and May 2020, with three player pools established: the remaining England centrally contracted players, overseas players and domestic players.
Teams were allowed a maximum of three centrally contracted players and three overseas players.
Players for the men's teams were signed using a draft system common in other franchise leagues. The draft took place on 20 October 2019 at Sky Studios in Osterley. Sky Sports and BBC Sport showed the event live. Round Birmingham Phoenix London Spirit Manchester Originals Northern Superchargers Oval Invincibles Southern Brave Trent Rockets Welsh FireCentralChris WoakesRory BurnsJos ButtlerBen StokesSam CurranJofra ArcherJoe RootJonny BairstowRd 1Liam LivingstoneGlenn MaxwellImran TahirAaron FinchSunil NarineAndre RussellRashid KhanMitchell StarcRd 1Moeen AliEoin MorganDane VilasMujeeb Ur RahmanJason RoyDavid WarnerD'Arcy ShortSteve SmithRd 2Kane WilliamsonMohammad NabiPhil SaltChris LynnSam BillingsLiam DawsonLewis GregoryColin IngramRd 2Ravi BoparaMohammad AmirTom AbellAdil RashidSandeep LamichhaneJames VinceAlex HalesTom BantonRd 3Benny HowellRoelof van der MerweMatt ParkinsonAdam LythRilee RossouwShadab KhanNathan Coulter-NileBen DuckettRd 3Tom HelmMark WoodSaqib MahmoodDavid WilleyTom CurranChris JordanHarry GurneyRavi RampaulRd 4Shaheen AfridiJoe DenlyDaniel ChristianRichard GleesonReece TopleyTymal MillsSteven MullaneySimon HarmerRd 4Pat BrownDan LawrenceWayne MadsenBen FoakesHardus ViljoenRoss WhiteleyMatthew CarterQais AhmedRd 5Adam HoseMason CraneWayne ParnellTom Kohler-CadmoreFabian AllenDelray RawlinsLuke WoodLiam PlunkettRd 5Cameron DelportKyle AbbottMitchell SantnerDavid WieseAlex BlakeOllie PopeTom MooresRyan ten DoeschateRd 6Henry BrookesAdam RossingtonJoe ClarkeNathan RimmingtonWill JacksGeorge GartonDawid MalanDavid PayneRd 6Adam ZampaZak CrawleyMarchant de LangeBrydon CarseChris WoodAlex DaviesBen CoxRyan HigginsRd 7Riki WesselsJade DernbachEd PollockEd BarnardNathan SowterMax WallerLuke FletcherDanny BriggsRd 7Chris CookeLuis ReeceEddie ByromJohn SimpsonLaurie EvansCraig OvertonLuke WrightLeus du Plooy Changed teams in 2021 Released in 2021
2021 The delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the squads.
Women's teams were less affected because they had had no draft: squads had been built in waves of signings, and were not complete when the pandemic hit. There was little movement among domestic players, as they were allowed to roll over their contracts, but by July 2021, fourteen overseas players had withdrawn.
With regards to the men's teams, changes to England's central contracts in 2020 forced squad changes. Jonny Bairstow lost his contract, so Ollie Pope became Welsh Fire's centrally contracted player, although Bairstow stayed with the side. Elsewhere, Essex's Zak Crawley became London Spirit's centrally contracted player, meaning Rory Burns moved to the Oval Invincibles, the franchise affiliated with his county Surrey. Both the Invincibles and Birmingham Phoenix were given permission to have two centrally contracted players.
In February 2021, teams were given the option to retain or release the players they had drafted in 2019, and took very different approaches. Trent Rockets, Southern Brave and London Spirit kept almost the entirety of the 15-man squads they had drafted in 2019, while Welsh Fire released half of their players and Manchester Originals kept only five.
A total of thirty-five players were released. In some cases this was due to the availability of foreign stars or the changing fortunes of local players, but Brexit was also a factor in this reshuffling. Players who had qualified as "local players" under Kolpak registrations were suddenly "overseas players", meaning eleven of them were released.
The pandemic also meant the men's salaries were reduced by 20%.
Round Birmingham Phoenix London Spirit Manchester Originals Northern Superchargers Oval Invincibles Southern Brave Trent Rockets Welsh FireCentralChris WoakesZak CrawleyJos ButtlerBen StokesSam CurranJofra ArcherJoe RootOllie PopeCentralDom SibleyRory BurnsRd 1Liam LivingstoneGlenn MaxwellNicholas PooranAaron FinchSunil NarineDavid WarnerRashid KhanKieron PollardRd 1Moeen AliEoin MorganKagiso RabadaMujeeb Ur RahmanJason RoyAndre RussellD'Arcy ShortJonny BairstowRd 2Tom AbellMohammad NabiHarry GurneyChris LynnSam BillingsMarcus StoinisLewis GregoryJhye RichardsonRd 2Kane WilliamsonMohammad AmirPhil SaltAdil RashidTom CurranJames VinceAlex HalesTom BantonRd 3Benny HowellRavi BoparaMatt ParkinsonAdam LythSaqib MahmoodLiam DawsonNathan Coulter-NileJake BallRd 3Tom HelmMark WoodJoe ClarkeDavid WilleySandeep LamichhaneChris JordanDawid MalanBen DuckettRd 4Shaheen AfridiJoe DenlyJamie OvertonOlly StoneColin IngramDanny BriggsTimm van der GugtenIan CockbainRd 4Pat BrownDan LawrenceShadab KhanMatthew PottsReece TopleyTymal MillsSteven MullaneyQais AhmedRd 5Adam HoseChris WoodTom LammonbyMatthew FisherWill JacksDelray RawlinsMatthew CarterJosh CobbRd 5Adam ZampaMason CraneWayne MadsenTom Kohler-CadmoreLaurie EvansAlex DaviesTom MooresLiam PlunkettRd 6Daniel Bell-DrummondAdam RossingtonSteven FinnHarry BrookBrandon GloverGeorge GartonLuke WoodDavid PayneRd 6Henry BrookesRoelof van der MerweColin AckermannBrydon CarseJordan ClarkRoss WhiteleyLuke WrightRyan HigginsRd 7Miles HammondJade DernbachRichard GleesonCallum ParkinsonNathan SowterMax WallerSamit PatelMatthew CritchleyRd 7Chris CookeLuis ReeceTom HartleyJohn SimpsonAlex BlakeBen CoxDavid Lloyd
Changed teams in 2021 Drafted in 2021 Squads were completed in July 2021, with each team being allowed a wildcard pick: a player who had performed well in the T20 Blast. They were as follows:
Birmingham Phoenix - Dillon Pennington (Worcestershire) London Spirit - Blake Cullen (Middlesex) Manchester Originals - Fred Klaassen (Kent) Northern Superchargers - Ben Raine (Durham) Oval Invincibles - Jordan Cox (Kent) Southern Brave - Jake Lintott (Warwickshire) Trent Rockets - Sam Cook (Essex) Welsh Fire - Leus du Plooy (Derbyshire)
Broadcasting All games were televised by Sky Sports, with the BBC also showing 10 men's and 8 women's games free-to-air. Sky also showed all of the women's games and some of the men's games in full on its YouTube channel.
Standings Women
advances to the Final advances to the Eliminator
Men
advances to the Final advances to the Eliminator
Results
Women
July
August
Men
July
August
Knockout stages Women
Eliminator
Final
Men
Eliminator
Final
Statistics Most runs
+ WomenRunsPlayerTeamHigh score 259 Dane van Niekerk Oval Invincibles 67 not out 249 Jemimah Rodrigues Northern Superchargers 92 not out 244 Sophia Dunkley Southern Brave 58 not out 233 Evelyn Jones Birmingham Phoenix 64 221 Hayley Matthews Welsh Fire 71 not out Source: ESPN Cricinfo
+ MenRunsPlayerTeamHigh score 348 Liam Livingstone Birmingham Phoenix 92 not out 232 Ben Duckett Welsh Fire 65 229 James Vince Southern Brave 60 225 Moeen Ali Birmingham Phoenix 59 214 Glenn Phillips Welsh Fire 80 Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Most wickets
+ WomenWicketsPlayerTeamBest bowling 18 Tash Farrant Oval Invincibles 4/1015 Sammy-Jo Johnson Trent Rockets 4/1515 Kirstie Gordon Birmingham Phoenix 3/14 14 Amanda-Jade Wellington Southern Brave 4/12 12 Kate Cross Manchester Originals 3/19 Source: ESPN Cricinfo
+ MenWicketsPlayerTeamBest bowling12 Adam Milne Birmingham Phoenix 3/1512 Marchant de Lange Trent Rockets 5/2012 Adil Rashid Northern Superchargers 3/1312 Rashid Khan Trent Rockets 3/16 11 Benny Howell Birmingham Phoenix 2/12 Source: ESPN Cricinfo
Notes
References
External links Official website