This year has been dominated by white-ball cricket and there is much, much more to come.
After an enthralling Indian Premier League season and an absorbing T20 World Cup, with India crowned champions, it is time to switch focus to the latest edition of the Hundred.
England’s premier franchise tournament, the only one in the world to follow a 100-ball format, returns to television screens around the globe and this fourth instalment could be the most action-packed year yet.
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Read on as we preview the 2024 season of the Hundred…
Key Information
Like in previous years, eights teams will contest both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
These franchises are as follows: Oval Invincibles, London Spirit, Welsh Fire, Northern Superchargers, Southern Brave, Manchester Originals, Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets.
The tournament is taking place from July 23 until August 18, with both the men’s and women’s finals played on the same day at Lord’s.
Both eliminators will be played at the Oval on August 17, with group fixtures concluding two days prior.
Each team will play four group matches at their home ground and four away matches, a total of eight games per team. Two points will be awarded for a victory and one point if the match is tied or there is no result (for example due to rain).
Players To Watch Out For
Unsurprisingly, the tournament is dominated by England stars who will be desperate to impress supporters on home soil.
The likes of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Reece Topley, Ollie Pope, Chris Jordan, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and many more can provide us with cricketing entertainment of the highest order at their respective franchises.
It is the same in the women’s format too, with England stars Sophie Ecclestone, Amy Jones, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Heather Knight, Danni Wyatt, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Lauren Bell, as well as plenty of others, keen to show the best versions of themselves.
But here are some overseas cricketers to watch out for in this year’s Hundred…
Nicholas Pooran (Northern Superchargers)
The first pick in the men’s Hundred Draft, West Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Pooran will be itching to deliver from the get-go.
Lethal and destructive in the white-ball format, Pooran is set to form part of an exciting batting line-up which includes Stokes, Brook and Australian Matthew Short.
There are not many better six hitters in the world than Pooran and if he gets into his stride, tournament records could tumble.
Fazalhaq Farooqi (Manchester Originals)
Afghanistan pacer Farooqi will enter the tournament on the back of a superb T20 World Cup.
He took 17 wickets in eight matches as Afghanistan reached the semi-finals, regularly deceiving batsmen with speed and variations.
The 23-year-old left-armer will also make the most of any movement on offer, allowing him to operate effectively in all stages of the 100-ball innings.
Naseem Shah (Birmingham Phoenix)
Another fast bowler who will have batsmen feeling a little bit nervy at the crease.
Pakistan star Shah is widely regarded as one of the best in the world and is able to regularly bowl in excess of 90 mph.
We can see him taking wickets aplenty, particularly if the English conditions are favourable.
Shabnim Ismail (Welsh Fire)
Probably the fastest bowler in the women’s game right now, Ismail can blow away any batting order in this tournament.
The 35-year-old veteran is the leading wicket taker for South African in One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals.
Beth Mooney (Manchester Originals)
Currently the No1 T20I batter in the women’s game, Mooney will be out to wreak more havoc with the willow in the middle of yet another successful individual year.
The Australia star has got runs in previous editions of this tournament, too – and it is no wonder she was one of the first eight picks in the women’s Draft.
Who Are the Defending Champions?
Oval Invincibles were the winner of last year’s men’s tournament, while the women’s trophy was lifted by the Southern Brave.
The Hundred 2024 Odds
*Odds are subject to change
Men’s Hundred
Oval Invincibles – 5.00
Birmingham Phoenix – 6.00
Manchester Originals – 6.00
Trent Rockets – 7.50
London Spirit – 8.00
Northern Superchargers – 8.00
Southern Brave – 8.00
Welsh Fire – 9.00
Women’s Hundred
Southern Brave – 3.50
Northern Superchargers – 5.00
Welsh Fire – 5.50
Oval Invincibles – 9.00
Trent Rockets – 9.00
London Spirit – 11.00
Manchester Originals – 11.00
Birmingham Phoenix – 13.00
Where Can I Watch the Hundred?
All matches from this year’s Hundred competition will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK.
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