Wickets replaced by ‘outs’ as Hundred rips up phrase book

► ECB aims to attract younger audience with new terminology ► Batsmen renamed ‘batters’ in bid to make game accessible

English cricket chiefs are preparing to replace the word “wickets” with “outs” for the Hundred in an attempt to make the sport more accessible to new supporters.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is determined to attract a younger audience for the competition when it launches in 99 days, and one element of that strategy will involve ripping up the vocabulary which has described the game almost since its creation.

The Daily Telegraph understands one of the biggest changes will be that “wickets” will be described as “outs” and batsmen will be called “batters”, even in the men’s game. It is one of a number of ideas being firmed up by the ECB after extensive market research showed that one of the biggest barriers for new supporters was the complexity of cricket’s terminology. The introduc“outs” tion of “outs” is likely to be the most controversial for traditionalists, many of whom are already sceptical about the introduction of the Hundred. The tournament starts on July 21 when the Oval Invincibles and the Manchester Originals meet in the women’s competition.

Scrapping the term “wickets” promises to overhaul the way in which scoring is described. It means a team could be described as having 75 runs off 32 balls for two “outs” instead of 75 for two wickets off 32 balls. A bowler can still be said to have taken a wicket, but could be described as claiming 15 “outs” off 120 balls in the competition so far.

is a term that is primarily associated with baseball, but is also a cricket word, so it is viewed as being acceptable as a change. The ECB will not be inventing a new lexicon for the competition, but wants to find the easiest and simplest way to describe this new format to people who may be encountering cricket for the first time.

Runs, balls and outs will be the currency of the competition and, while no phrases will be banned, commentators for Sky Sports and the BBC, the two broadcasters to secure rights to the tournament, will be encouraged to use the new

terminology. Batsmen will be made gender-neutral – a trend which is already under way in the game – but other terms such as third man could go the same way. The ECB’S view is that the competition has to be different to establish a distinctive identity. Organisers are understood to be treating its launch as a chance to redraw cricket as we know it now.

Scorecards will have to be altered to reflect a 100-ball competition.

There will be a change of ends after 10 balls and bowlers can deliver either five or 10 balls consecutively. A countdown clock from 100 to zero balls has been suggested, too.

The ideas have been extensively tested with focus groups and drew favourable responses, encouraging the ECB to embrace change, even though such moves are likely to infuriate the game’s traditional domestic fan base.

A spokesperson for the Hundred said: “The Hundred is designed to make cricket accessible to everyone, and the language of the game can sometimes be a barrier. We want the Hundred to open cricket up to more people, as well as entertaining existing fans, so we’re discussing the clearest ways of explaining the game.”