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The Hundred is one of the most exciting innovations in modern cricket, introducing a fast-paced 100-ball format designed to attract new audiences and deliver action-packed matches. Organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the tournament features men's and women's competitions, bringing together international stars and emerging talent.

Since its launch in 2021, The Hundred has gained popularity among cricket fans through its shorter matches, innovative rules, city-based franchises, and family-friendly atmosphere. From its history and team structure to past winners and playing rules, here's everything you need to know about The Hundred cricket tournament.

The Hundred History: How It Started

The Hundred was introduced by the ECB to make cricket more accessible to new fans and create a distinctive competition alongside traditional county cricket and T20 tournaments. Originally planned for 2020, the inaugural season was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually took place in 2021.

The competition features eight city-based franchises in both the men's and women's tournaments. Its format was designed to make matches easier to follow while retaining the excitement of professional cricket.

Another important feature is the emphasis on the women's competition, which runs alongside the men's tournament and provides female cricketers with a major platform to showcase their skills.

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The Hundred Teams

The Hundred features eight franchises representing cities and regions across England and Wales. Following ownership changes, several teams adopted new names for the 2026 season.

The current teams are:

1. Birmingham Phoenix
   

2. London Spirit
   

3. Manchester Super Giants
   

4. MI London
   

5. Southern Brave
   

6. SunRisers Leeds
   

7. Trent Rockets
   

8. Welsh Fire
   

Each franchise has separate men's and women's squads. The teams compete at established cricket grounds, including Lord's, The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Headingley, and Trent Bridge.

The Hundred Format: How Does It Work?

The defining feature of The Hundred is its 100-ball innings. Unlike traditional T20 cricket, where each team faces a maximum of 120 legal deliveries, each team in The Hundred faces a maximum of 100 legal balls.

Here are the main rules:

• 100 balls per innings: Each team gets a maximum of 100 legal deliveries to score runs.
  

• Five-ball sets: Bowlers deliver five consecutive balls, with the umpire indicating the end of each set. A bowler can deliver consecutive sets.
  

• Bowling limit: A bowler can deliver a maximum of 20 balls in an innings.
  

• Powerplay: The first 25 balls form the powerplay, during which only two fielders can be outside the 30-yard circle.
  

• Team size: Each side fields 11 players.
  

• Strategic time-out: Teams can use a short tactical break during their innings.
  

The format encourages aggressive batting, innovative bowling, and quick decision-making. With fewer deliveries than a T20 match, every over-equivalent can significantly influence the result.

The Hundred Winners List

The tournament has produced several memorable champions since its inaugural season. The men's and women's competitions have different winners, and their histories should be tracked separately.

Men's Competition Winners

• 2021: Southern Brave
  

• 2022: Trent Rockets
  

• 2023: Oval Invincibles, now MI London
  

• 2024: Oval Invincibles, now MI London
  

• 2025: Oval Invincibles, now MI London
  

• 2026: Manchester Super Giants
  

Oval Invincibles became the first men's team to win three consecutive titles, completing their historic run in 2025. Manchester Super Giants won the 2026 championship, defeating Trent Rockets in the final.

Women's Competition Winners

• 2021: Oval Invincibles, now MI London
  

• 2022: Oval Invincibles, now MI London
  

• 2023: Southern Brave
  

• 2024: London Spirit
  

• 2025: Northern Superchargers, now SunRisers Leeds
  

• 2026: Trent Rockets
  

The winners demonstrate the competitive nature of both tournaments, with different franchises enjoying success across the seasons.

Why The Hundred Is Popular

The Hundred combines a short match duration with international talent, accessible stadium experiences, and a distinctive scoring format. Its parallel men's and women's competitions also help increase visibility for women's cricket.

The tournament's franchise model attracts overseas stars while giving local players opportunities to compete at a high level. These elements have helped establish The Hundred as a distinctive part of the English cricket calendar.

Conclusion

The Hundred has brought a fresh approach to professional cricket through its 100-ball format, eight city-based teams, and parallel men's and women's competitions. Since 2021, the tournament has delivered memorable finals and new champions while attracting fans to a different style of cricket.

With evolving franchise ownership and the introduction of player auctions in 2026, The Hundred continues to develop. Its combination of entertainment, competition, and accessibility makes it an important tournament for cricket fans worldwide.