‘The Hundred’, an eight-team city-based tournament is scheduled to be taking place in England during July and August 2020, will feature five-ball overs and the option for bowlers to bowl two consecutive overs. According to a report in The Telegraph, there will be some innovations can be expected to be announced which might include a change of ends only after ten balls (two overs) and captains being allowed the choice of either continuing with the same bowler for consecutive overs or split up the overs between two bowlers.
It can be expected that by reducing the number of ends changes will speed up teh game and would also add a new tactical dimension to the game if a captain decides to give an additional over to a bowler who is bowling well. The maximum number of overs that a bowler can bowl in an innings is four.
‘Earlier this his the England and the Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the introduction of ‘The Hundred’ in order to further increase the popularity of the sport and drive engagement.
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The format of the tournament was discussed earlier this week with Trent Woodhill, a freelance Twenty20 consultant who has joined the ECB for a month to help in setting up the tournament. Woodhill has the experience of being the general manager of T20 franchises Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Melbourne Stars, also having worked as a batting coach for both teams. He will advise on a number of things ranging from employing coaches, setting up new teams and forming player contracts.
Trial matches for the format will also be played at Trent Bridge for men and Loughborough for women to test the playing regulations in September and the possibility of the English stalwarts such as Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, and Joe Root to play in the first round of the competition, and on the finals day is being explored. The report said the ECB met representatives of the players earlier this week to discuss the format of the tournament.
