Hundred fixtures released
The fixtures for the inaugural Hundred competition have been released.
Starting on July 21, the new tournament will see at least one match played every day up until August 18 with the men’s and women’s competitions played simultaneously.
The competition is also breaking new ground by beginning the tournament with a solo women’s match as the Oval Invincibles take on Manchester Originals, with the men’s match taking place the following day before the double headers continue through the remainder of the competition.
The new 100-ball competition will see eight teams comprised of top domestic and international stars all vying to become the first champions. As well as the Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals, the other competing teams are Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Northern Superchargers, Southern Brave, Trent rockets and Welsh Fire.
Somerset captain Lewis Gregory will lead the lines for Trent Rockets in a team that features England skipper Joe Root, while Tom Banton will feature for the Welsh Fire which has a strong contingent of Western Storm players in Lauren Filer, Katie George, Alex Griffiths, Georgia Hennessy, Natasha Wraith and Sophie Luff.
Roelof van der Merwe will be competing for London Spirit, alongside Storm’s Heather Knight and Danielle Gibson; while Craig Overton and Max Waller will lineup amongst a strong bowling Southern Brave set-up, alongside Storm’s Anya Shrubsole and Stafanie Taylor.
Tom Abell has been signed up to Birmingham Phoenix, while Wedmore cricketer Jos Buttler will fea ture for Manchester Originals.
For ticket news and to see the fixtures, visit thehundred.com.
■ THE ECB has appointed Cindy Butts as chair of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket.
The commission will examine issues relating to race and equality in the game.
As chair, Ms Butts will work with the ECB board to finalise the terms of reference for the Commission and lead the process to appoint a number of independent commissioners who will bring further diversity of thought, background and experience to the Commission, providing constructive input and challenge to the ECB and the wider game.
The Commission, which was formed in November, will independently gather and access the evidence of inequalities and discrimination of all forms within cricket and identify the actions the ECB will need to take to tackle these issues. The Commission will act with complete independence, examining any evidence it deems relevant and making the recommendations it considers necessary.
Ms Butts said: “I’m excited to be bringing together my lifelong love of cricket with my passion for equity and inclusion, to lead this work for the ECB.
“While it’s important we preserve the best of cricket’s traditions, it is also important we identify ways it can evolve and innovate to attract and welcome diverse communities who can make an impact in all areas and at all levels of the game.
“I am committed to ensuring that cricket has a bright future in this country.”
Timsbury CC 200 Club
£10 Winners, week ending March 6: No52 Mrs A Hawkins, No127 Mr E Roberts, No98 Mrs J Thomas.