Free hits and 20-ball matches for Hundred

Wides will be punished by free hits and matches could be as short as 20 balls in the new Hundred competition which moved a big step closer to reality last week.

The latest proposals will be tested in the concluding pilot match involving England women at Loughborough on Thursday before final playing regulations are presented for approval to the executive board of the England and Wales Cricket Board in November.

There is still a lot of work to be done on the business side of the competition but the ECB is now confident it has settled on what the cricket will look like after months of doubt and ridicule of the proposed new format.

At the moment only no balls are punished by free hits, an extra ball off which a batsman cannot be dismissed, unless run out. But the ECB is considering extending free hits to wides, a measure that might help drive up standards because bowlers will be more careful not to bowl wides and teams will be less likely to use part-timers to fill in overs.

In the event of rain, matches could be shortened to just 20 balls consisting of a five-ball power play and four bowlers bowling five balls each. At the moment Twenty20 matches can be reduced to five overs due to bad weather. In the event of a tied match, a five-ball super over is planned.

The ECB is planning further trial matches next year which will be played in front of live audiences. Matches last week were played behind closed doors at Trent Bridge and Loughborough University with the media invited only for one day.

The strategic timeout of 2½ minutes could be called by the coach of the bowling team at any time between balls 25 and 75. It might also be televised, with coaches wearing microphones to put the viewer in the huddle.

The 10-ball blocks from each end, which can be split between two bowlers delivering five balls each, are seen as crucial elements for cutting an innings to just 65 minutes.

Two fielding substitutes have been deemed the right amount, allowing bowlers to rest.