The Hundred Series in to Bat
The cricket season is upon us and the Hundred cricket series is a great competition to kick off the season. The competition which is gaining popularity has been around since 2021. The Hundred aims to appeal to the younger crowd with the matches being played at a much faster pace than normal cricket matches.
The organisers also provide live music to draw in families to come to watch the matches at the stadiums. All of the teams have a woman and men’s side and teams play to together in a pair. So the men’s match will start after the woman’s match has finished or vice versa. The players can also get interviewed whilst on the field during play while music is played during the match to get the crowd involved. Therefore get involved in The Hundred series this cricket season!
Rules of Hundred
The rules of the Hundred are pretty much the same as T20 cricket except for a few small differences. One being that an over consists of 5 balls and that a bowler can bowl two overs in a row without having to change ends. A bowler can only bowl 20 balls per match. The Captain can also change the bowler mid after 5 balls have been bowled. Two points plus a free hit is given if a “no ball” is bowled.
A Captains can also call a timeout of up to 2.5 minutes to discuss strategy with players. The match goes into a Super 5 ball eliminator to decide the winning team if the match ends in a draw. Furthermore each team can include three international players to boost their squad each season. During the 25-ball powerplay, captains may place only two fielders outside the ring.
Teams Playing the Hundred 2025
Eight teams compete to be crowned the best team in the Hundred. The teams that make up the 100 come from different cities around the UK. Each team has a woman as well as a men’s side that play together on the same day. The teams competing in this year’s The Hundred 2025 competition are;
- Birmingham Phoenix: Men’s team finished second place in 2021.
- London Spirit: No wins.
- Manchester Originals: The men’s side placed second in 2022 and 2023.
- Northern Superchargers: Women’s side finished in second place in 2023.
- Oval Invincibles: Men’s side finished first in 2023. Women’s team won the title in 2021 and 2022.
- Southern Brave: Men’s team was the champions in 2021. Woman’s team came second in 2021, 2022 and won the title in 2023.
- Trent Rockets: Men’s team won in 2022.
- Welsh Fire: No wins.
Teams to look out for in The Hundred 2025 Series
Men’s Side
The Oval Invincibles are the team to beat this year. Pundits have them down with +- 25% probability to win again this year. The team are the defending champions and have odds of 9/4 or 2.25. Many see Southern Brave, who won the first season, as the team most likely to challenge the Oval Invincibles. They have odds of 5/1 to win this year. Many consider Birmingham and Manchester Originals strong contenders this season.
Woman’s Side
Pundits feel that the Oval Invincibles Women also have a slight edge over other teams this season. The team has won the title twice and have the depth in their team to take gold again this year. They have odds of 4/1. Current title holders Southern Brave and Welsh Fire are close behind with odds 9/2 to win this year.
There are a few notable South Africans playing this year. Laura Wolvaardt plays for the Southern Brave team and Heinrich Klaasen is in at Manchester Originals. The tournament will start on 5 August and finish at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on the 31st of August.
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Get ready for an adrenaline-charged summer as The Hundred 2025 kicks off this season! Each match bursts with energy, turning the stadium into a vibrant hub of excitement. Live music keeps the crowd buzzing, while fun-filled activities light up the breaks between overs. Fans can explore colourful zones, dive into interactive games, and soak up non-stop entertainment that goes beyond the boundary. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket fan or just there for the electric atmosphere, The Hundred guarantees thrilling moments and unforgettable vibes all season long. Furthermore for more key sports events this month have a look at our August Sport Preview.