Hundred’s last shot to win over doubters

THE troubled Hundred format on which the England Cricket Board are placing so much importance is facing a critical fortnight.

Three days of trials at Trent Bridge for which the ECB will be literally making up the rules as they go along will be followed by Sanjay Patel, the managing director of the Hundred, presenting his plans to the main committee of the MCC.

It is imperative for the Hundred to even get off the ground that the MCC and Lord’s — one of the eight venues — fully buy into the project.

But the MCC, who publicly say they remain open- minded but need more information, harbour serious doubts according to some members and county chiefs.

Meanwhile, MCC are expected to appoint a head groundsman this week to replace the legendary Mick Hunt, who has looked after the Lord’s pitch for 49 years. After the final interviews, the leading candidates are Edgbaston’s Gary Barwell and Karl McDermott from Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl. Both men have produced good Test wickets this summer.

CONSIDERING

the winner of the Open championship has his name engraved before even being presented with the Claret Jug, Surrey have not excelled themselves in still not having their victorious Surrey Stars added to the Kia women’s Super League roll of honour a fortnight after the 2018 tournament. Especially when the silverware was on show at a media lunch at the Oval yesterday attended by Surrey’s director of women’s cricket Ebony Rainford-Brent.

THE strong word in the VIP Wembley Suite before and after the game again Spain was that former Chelsea and Leeds owner Ken Bates (right) has a merchant bank interested in buying the national stadium.

In his former role as Wembley chairman, Bates played a major role in the stadium being built, and said about the £600million offer from Fulham owner Shahid Khan: ‘Wembley is the home of football. The FA directors are just passing through. How dare they even consider selling it.’

And the Monaco-based 86-year- old Bates claimed to have no knowledge of such a potential deal, only asking what a merchant bank would want with Wembley.

However, old grey beard is still believed to be up to something around the Wembley sale.

ENGLAND’S

armchair viewing figures fell dramatically from the high point of a World Cup semi-final against Croatia, watched by 26.6m on ITV, to just 1.6m across two channels after UEFA, in their wisdom, sold the UK Nations League rights to Sky.