Faulkner backing Hundred to be a success
LANCASHIRE all-rounder James Faulkner has backed English cricket’s new franchise tournament to rival the world’s premier Twenty20 competitions.
Details remain unclear about the eventual format of the tournament, provisionally known as ‘The Hundred’, which is set to start in 2020.
Faulkner, a veteran of the established T20 format through the Indian Premier League as well as the Big Bash League in Australia, is preparing with Lancashire for the Vitality Blast Finals Day on September 15.
“I’m like everyone else, unsure about what sort of concept they’re going to go with,” said Faulkner about the new competition, for which Emirates Old Trafford will be a host venue.
“I’m sure they’ll figure out the best possible outcome.
“I’m purely just focused on what I’m involved in, at the moment it’s the T20 Blast and that’s the one thing I’m concentrating on.
“Obviously at the moment the IPL and the BBL are the two big ones around the world when it comes to tournament play, but England have got a great opportunity to make it three - having 2020 just around the corner, with the franchise cricket that they’re going to roll out, this is an exciting time.
“They’ve got a lot of fans they want to keep behind the brand at the moment, selling out Finals Day with 27,000 in a very short period of time, which is a great sign - not just for Twenty20 but the game in general around the world.”