The launch of cricket’s newest competition, The Hundred, will take place in 2021

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today confirms that the launch of The Hundred will now take place in summer 2021. The news follows a meeting dedicated to the subject, where the Board concluded it was not possible for the competition to be staged this year.

As a result, the two Southern Brave matches scheduled to take place at The 1st Central County Ground this summer, and women's Finals Day, have also been pushed back a year.

The new competition has a vision to grow the game and is part of the ECB’s long-term strategy to inspire a new generation to choose cricket.

A number of reasons were outlined for the decision including:

• Operational challenges caused by social distancing, alongside ongoing global travel restrictions, making the competition’s ambition to feature world-class players and coaches, unattainable in 2020. 

• A behind closed doors competition directly contradicts the competition’s goal to attract a broader audience through a unique event experience for viewers and spectators.  

• With significant furloughing across the partnership network of 20 venues, the logistics of delivering a brand-new sporting event, without a tried-and-tested delivery plan, would be incredibly challenging.

Refocused efforts will now look forward to 2021, centering on the competition’s four key objectives to support the game, which will be even more imperative as the nation emerges from this pandemic:

1. Engaging a broader audience in cricket to grow the game
2. Driving participation throughout the game with the support of partners Sky and BBC
3. Delivering guaranteed revenues and support for First-Class Counties (FCCs), MCC and the wider game
4. Developing young talent as they grow their skills playing for and against teams made-up of world-class players and coaches

Rob Andrew, Chief Executive of Sussex Cricket said: "We fully support decision of the ECB to postpone the inaugural edition of The Hundred until 2021.

"The current situation is a difficult time for everyone in cricket, and the wider world. We look forward to welcoming Charlotte Edwards and her Southern Brave side to The 1st Central County Ground next summer, and cannot wait to host Finals Day. We're sure it will be worth the wait. 

"Sussex Cricket is proud to be the home of women's cricket, and we will continue to fully support the growth and development of the women's game over what will be a difficult time for our sport."

ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, added: ‘’The situation we find ourselves in as a country means that delivery of The Hundred will not be possible this summer. Whilst we are naturally disappointed that we won't get to realise our ambitions this year, The Hundred will go ahead in 2021 when we are safely able to deliver everything we intended to help grow the game.”

“As we emerge from the fallout of COVID-19, there will be an even greater need for The Hundred. Our survival as a game, long-term, will be dependent on our ability to recover financially and continue our ambition to build on cricket's growing fan base. That need has not gone away. If anything, it is now more critical.”

"The Hundred will create millions in revenues for the game, through hosting fees, hospitality and ticket sales, as well as delivering £25m in annual financial distributions to all First Class Counties and MCC. Its role in driving participation alongside supporting the development of the women’s game will be material in generating take-up of our game across country-wide communities.’’

‘’The Hundred is an important element of the game's Inspiring Generations strategy, which has been debated and agreed upon across the whole game. While financially, our plans may be impacted, our ambition, ‘to inspire a generation’ should in no way be diluted.’’

“We would like to thank our broadcast partners, for their extraordinary commitment and support to get The Hundred to this point and our commercial partners for their ongoing support. We very much look forward to working with them as we build to the 2021 launch.”

Full details on refunds can be found at thehundred.com.