The ECB have today confirmed that the First-Class Counties of England and Wales have agreed to a 100-ball format for the New Competition, now officially known as The Hundred. 

The key elements of the new white-ball game for 2020 will be:

  • 100 balls per innings 
  • A change of ends after ten balls 
  • Bowlers deliver either five or ten consecutive balls 
  • Each bowler can deliver a maximum of 20 balls per game 
  • Each bowling side gets a strategic timeout of up to two and a half minutes 
  • A 25-ball powerplay start for each team 
  • Two fielders are allowed outside of the initial 30-yard circle during the powerplay

These playing conditions had been recommended by ECB’s Cricket Committee and were endorsed by the ECB Board in the autumn. In keeping with proper governance process, the 18 First-Class Counties were then asked to formally vote on the proposed format.

The voting process started after a Whole Game meeting in January - where a game-wide strategy for 2020-24 was presented - and the final vote was received this week. A two-thirds majority in favour was required for the 100-ball format to be agreed and this was exceeded with the counties voting 17-1 in favour. 

“This is a significant step, with overwhelming support for The Hundred,” said ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison.

“Over the last three years we have worked closely with the whole game to create an important opportunity for the whole game.

“This new competition has already helped to secure vital new partnerships and substantial broadcast revenues and it will help us to meet the ambitions of our game-wide strategy for 2020-24 – Inspiring Generations. The Hundred will help cricket to reach more people.

“We remain totally committed to the existing, popular forms of cricket and will be committing significant funds and focus to all levels of the game, protecting and nurturing the core whilst reaching out to a wider audience.”

Starting in 2020, The Hundred will feature eight new city-based teams playing the competition over a five-week period in the height of summer. The team identities will now be agreed and a Player Draft scheduled for this autumn. Sanjay Patel will take up the full-time role of Managing Director for the competition in April.

“This agreement for the playing conditions shows the confidence that the Counties have in the new competition and their desire to help take cricket to more people,” said Managing Director of The Hundred, Sanjay Patel.

“You will now see an acceleration in the progress of The Hundred and a series of significant building blocks over the coming months, before our first ever Player Draft in the autumn.

“The next major step will be to confirm the team identities, with their names and kit colours, following months of research and consultation and, operationally, the new competition team will be able to move into the next phase of developing The Hundred.”