-
36 minutes ago
Southern Brave captain Georgia Adams cast doubt on mooted plans to switch to an auction for next year’s Hundred and says “players want to have some say in where they go”.
Hundred manager director Vikram Banerjee wants squads to have a “refresh” next season and one option favoured by some of the new investors in the eight teams is to introduce an auction similar to the Indian Premier League and replace the current draft system.
Teams could be able to retain as few as four players for next year’s tournament, which will mark the start of a new era after the investors take control at the franchises from 1 October.
“I wouldn’t be a fan of an auction because I just don’t see it fully working or having a great impact in this country,” said Adams, whose side play in the women’s final on Sunday after topping the group stage with a 100% record.
“It is hard when you’re sitting at the top and you’ve got a core group, that you’d probably be looking to keep together and that we’ve also worked hard to build and get together.
“A lot of females are motivated by their environments as well and if you want to look to get the best out of people, players want to have some say in ideally where they go, especially homegrown domestic players.”
The Hundred finals 2025
31 August (Women’s 14:15 BST, Men’s 18:00 BST)
Women’s final: Southern Brave v Northern Superchargers/London Spirit
Men’s final: Oval Invincibles v Trent Rockets/Northern Superchargers
Adams said she has turned down more money in previous seasons to remain at Brave, who she has played for since 2022.
This year teams could retain up to 10 players, with the the remaining slots filled at certain price brackets at the draft.
“Having played in the Big Bash [Australia’s domestic T20 competition], there’s such strong affiliation to their side and a lot of passion behind the teams that they’re playing for and I do think that helps the competition thrive,” Adams said.
Decisions on the future of competition will be made by a newly formed Hundred board, which will feature representatives from the England and Wales Cricket Board and one from each of the eight franchises.
New team names and kits are expected for 2026 as the investors, who collectively have spent more than £500m in securing their stakes in teams, make changes.
The ECB are keen for any changes to benefit both the men’s and women’s competitions, though there could be slight differences between the structure of an auction for each.
In the men’s tournament, Oval Invincibles will chase a third straight title in Sunday’s final, having benefited from keeping together a core group of players across the five seasons.
In contrast, Welsh Fire’s women have finished bottom in three out of five seasons while their men have never reached the latter stages.
Invincibles captain Sam Billings played down concerns such upheaval will lead to a loss of identity and said an auction will help keep the competition competitive.
“I would happily stay at The Oval and try and win a title every year but there is an argument that change does bring positive change and makes it more competitive,” Billings said.
“If it was constant turnover every year, I don’t like the idea of that.
“What the IPL does well is after various cycles you get change, you still keep the icon players. For example, Sam Curran will be retained regardless at The Oval.
“Not only because he is one of our best players but he is the Oval poster boy. From a marketing point of view it would be a no brainer.
“You still keep that core group of players, admittedly not 10 players but four players.
“It definitely does give opportunity to other teams, that haven’t had the success. It gives them a blank canvas to say we can build a team to win a title in the next three years.”
Adams and Billings support double-headers
Both Billings and Adams said the tournament should keep its double-header structure.
Men’s and women’s teams playing the same opposition at the same venue on the same day has been a staple of The Hundred since the competition started in 2021.
That will remain in 2026, but earlier this year ECB chief executive Richard Gould said organisers were considering “de-coupling” some matches in an attempt to sell out standalone women’s fixtures.
“We enjoy it,” Billings said. “It is something so unique to this tournament that has been, without doubt, the biggest positive of the tournament.”
Adams added: “If you’ve got young families, you can go and watch the women’s game and leave halfway through the men’s before it gets rowdy.
“If you’re there for a bit of a party you can arrive a bit later, watch some of the women’s cricket and stay on.
“The product just works so well, as a double-header, not just for those playing in it, but also for those watching it, everyone loves it.”
