[PICTURES] The Hundred 2025 edition

[Ball Blazer]

The Hundred to move to an auction and increase salaries

The Hundred will host its first auction in March 2026 as a number of changes are implemented to the player selection model and salaries ahead of the competition’s sixth year.

The changes have come through The Hundred Playing Working Group, which is comprised of representatives from all eight teams, the PCA and the ECB, and have been agreed by The Hundred Board.

In addition to the shift to an auction, squads will be made up of between 16 and 18 players, with four overseas players permitted. There will be a salary cap in place along with a salary collar – a minimum amount teams must spend.

While minimum salaries will be in place, there will no longer be specific salaries set, with teams deciding how much they are willing to bid at the auction. Multi-year contracts will also be introduced.

The overall salary pot in The Hundred men’s competition will increase 45% for the 2026 season, rising to £2.05m per team.

The overall salary pot in The Hundred women’s competition will increase 100% for the 2026 season, rising to £880,000 per team.

The increase to the salary pot in The Hundred women’s competition will also see the base price salaries for the lowest-paid player increase considerably to £15,000, up by 50%.

Teams are allowed up to four pre-auction signings from mid-November to the end of January. A maximum of three of these can be direct signings, and must be overseas or England centrally contracted players. A minimum of one would be a retention which can be any player – England centrally contracted, overseas or domestic.

Within the four pre-auction signings, teams can sign up to two England centrally contracted players, and up to two overseas players. There will be no right to match this season.

Teams will have specific amounts of money taken from their final salary pot ahead of the auction, depending on how many of their four direct signings or retentions they use. To balance flexibility with fairness, a tiered cumulative cap model – similar to the model used in the IPL – will be in place.

The cumulative pre-auction deduction per team is as follows:

Men’s competition - £350k (1 signing), £650k (2 players), £850k (3 players), £950k (4 players).

Women’s competition - £130k (1 signing), £240k (2 players), £310k (3 players), £360k (4 players).

The Vitality Wildcard Draft will remain in place, allowing teams in the men’s and women’s competitions to reward strong domestic form by finalising their squads with two final selections in June.

Managing Director of The Hundred Vikram Banerjee said: “This is a hugely exciting time for The Hundred. These changes will help us make the competition even better, ensuring we get the best players in the world and improving the standard of cricket and level of entertainment further again.

“Working alongside our new partners we’ve been exploring how we can take The Hundred forward and we’ve decided that moving to an auction will allow us to improve the competition. For a competition that has always been proud to innovate, we’re delighted to be holding the first auction in major UK sport.

“In making this decision, we have stuck to three key principles: i) ensuring The Hundred attracts the best players in the world, ii) maintaining a competitive balance between the squads, iii) guaranteeing whatever changes we make work across the men’s and women’s games.

“The decision to increase the men’s salary pot by 45% has been taken because market forces in the men’s game necessitate a more significant uplift to ensure we’re able to attract the best players in the world.

“The salary pot for the women’s competition in the first year of The Hundred was £120,000, with the top-earning players earning £15,000 – the pot has risen for the third year in a row. With the pot now £880,000, top-earning players are set to earn in the region of £130,000, as well as a significant increase in salaries for those at base price.

“Salaries in The Hundred women’s competition are very competitive, and they compare favourably with other franchise cricket competitions and across the landscape of women’s sport.

“It’s been fantastic to work alongside our new partners, they’re already bringing energy and expertise and I know that together we can make The Hundred even better, for fans and players alike.”

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Birmingham Phoenix are delighted to announce the appointment of Shane Bond as the Men’s Head Coach on a two-year contract.

The former New Zealand fast bowler will replace countryman Dan Vettori, who left the Phoenix at the end of the 2025 season, and will lead the Men’s team into an exciting new era of The Hundred.

The 50-year-old made 120 international appearances for New Zealand, as well as enjoying a brief County Championship stint with Warwickshire County Cricket Club in 2002, and since retiring has built a strong track record in coaching, particularly in franchise cricket.

He started his coaching career by taking up the role of bowling coach for the New Zealand national team, before moving to the IPL’s Mumbai Indians in 2015. He helped them to four IPL titles in his eight years as bowling coach, when he then moved to the Rajasthan Royals as Assistant Coach in 2023.

The former Bear has further experience in franchise cricket across the world, having held the Head Coach position for the Sydney Thunder in the BBL, the GT20 Canada’s Brampton Wolves and the Paarl Royals in the SA20, as well as Assistant Coach for the Brisbane Heat and the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket. He will also be Assistant Coach/Bowling Coach for the Gulf Giants in the upcoming ILT20, which begins next month.

James Thomas, Birmingham Phoenix Performance Director, said: “We’re thrilled to appoint Shane as Head Coach of the Birmingham Phoenix Men’s team.

“His elite coaching experience, proven success in global franchise leagues, and passion for player development will be a major asset.

“Throughout a competitive selection process, his vision, tactical insight and ability to build high-performing environments really stood out. He understands the demands of modern franchise cricket and what it takes to perform at the highest level.

"We will now work with Shane to structure the wider support team and continue to build on our player recruitment strategy ahead of next season.'

Bond said: “I would firstly like to thank James, Stuart and their team for giving me the opportunity to become Birmingham Phoenix Head Coach. It is a true honour and something I will never take for granted.

“I have a strong connection to the Club and the City of Birmingham following my time with the Bears earlier in my career, and I know what it means to walk out onto the Edgbaston pitch and represent the people in the stands. I want to instil that into our players and create an environment which breeds success.

“The Phoenix’s philosophy and values both on and off the pitch align perfectly with my own and I want my team to play a fearless, exciting brand of cricket which ultimately delivers success for the Birmingham Phoenix.”

The Birmingham Phoenix Men’s wider coaching structure will be announced in due course.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

The Hundred team partnerships completed, deals have now been completed with strategic partners for all eight teams in The Hundred, marking a new era for the competition

Surrey County Cricket Club and Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, today announced their partnership. This follows the completion of a deal which gives the organisations 51% and 49% stakes in the franchise, respectively. The two parties have announced that from 2026, both teams of Oval Invincibles will be known as MI London.

The deal with Cain & Ares Management Credit funds (“Ares”) for a stake in Trent Rockets, partnering with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, completed in October.

Six deals had previously been announced, meaning teams in The Hundred have now officially welcomed eight new strategic partners. It brings world-class expertise from across global sport, media, technology, and finance into the competition, helping take it to the next level.

The eight partnerships combined represent a valuation for the teams of over £975 million. As previously announced, over £500 million is now set to be invested into English and Welsh cricket.

This includes a dedicated £50 million commitment to grassroots cricket, ensuring the game continues to thrive at every level, with the remainder distributed to professional counties.

The completed eight deals are:

• Birmingham Phoenix – Knighthead Capital Management, LLC, on behalf of its investors (“Knighthead”) (49%)

• London Spirit – Tech Titans (49%)

• Manchester Originals – RPSG Group (70%)

• Northern Superchargers – Sun TV Network Limited (100%)

• Oval Invincibles – Reliance Industries Limited (through its wholly owned subsidiary Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited) (49%)

• Southern Brave – GMR Group (49%)

• Trent Rockets – Cain & Ares (49%)

• Welsh Fire – Washington Freedom (50%)

Consistent with deal completions, newly formed TeamCos comprising the investors and the venue will assume operational control of their respective franchises. In most cases, they will operate their franchise in The Hundred in partnership with the host club.

Oval Invincibles – Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited (RSBVL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited:

Mrs Nita M. Ambani said: “We are delighted to welcome MI London into the #OneFamily and take the MI legacy to new frontiers. London holds a special place in the heart of cricket, and we are honoured to be part of its rich heritage. Together with Surrey, we look forward to nurturing young talent, engaging diverse communities, and uniting fans through their shared love of the game.”

Mr Akash Ambani said: “We are happy to welcome MI London into the #OneFamily, marking a new chapter in our journey of uniting cricket fans, nurturing talent, and growing the game across continents. The Invincibles’ winning record and spirit of excellence perfectly embody the MI ethos of passion, resilience, and teamwork. Building on our shared passion for cricket, we look forward to collaborating with our partners at Surrey CCC and building on the legacy of The Hundred’s most successful team.”

Trent Rockets – Cain & Ares:

Mark Affolter, Co-Head of Ares’ Sports, Media & Entertainment strategy, said: “We are pleased to complete our investment in the Trent Rockets alongside Nottinghamshire CCC and Cain. In less than five years, The Hundred has established itself as a leading cricket league, and we look forward to supporting the Trent Rockets through our flexible capital and other resources as the team goes from strength to strength.”

Jonathan Goldstein, co-founder and CEO of Cain, said: “Since inception, The Hundred has brought something new to the game and Trent Rockets is well placed to be a driving force behind the competition’s next chapter. This is a club with real ambition and a clear drive to win, both on the men's and women's sides. We are proud to support the team's continued growth in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and Ares, and we look forward to helping The Hundred connect with more fans across the country.”

Vikram Banerjee, Managing Director, The Hundred, said: “It’s an exciting moment to now have all eight deals complete. The world-leading partners we now have on board will help us take The Hundred to the next level and establish it as the unmissable summer event.

“We’re already working closely together as we aim to make the 2026 season of The Hundred the best yet. It’s also an important moment for the whole of the game in England and Wales, unlocking significant investment to support the game at every level.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Dinesh Karthik named Mentor and Batting Coach for London Spirit Men’s team

In his first role with a franchise in The Hundred, Karthik will bring immense experience to the coaching staff. His considerable expertise is gleaned from over 250 matches as a player and a coach in the Indian Premier League (IPL), as well as 180 international matches for India.

Having played at the top level of the game for over 20 years, Karthik is a popular figure across professional cricket, respected by players, coaches, fans and pundits. As a result, he is well-placed to mentor players, both on the field as a great tactician and off it as an experienced ex-player who can lend an empathetic ear throughout the competition.

Karthik will also lead the coaching plans for London Spirit’s batters, a role in which he has already seen success for current IPL champions Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome DK to London Spirit. He is a truly original thinker in our game and his vast experience in short-format and franchise cricket will be invaluable to us. He’s also great fun to work with and brings an infectious energy and enthusiasm to everything he does.

“Following on from the appointment of Heather Knight, the signing of another elite individual with significant stature in the game demonstrates our ambition, and the importance we place on ensuring that our players receive the best possible support.”

Karthik added: “What an exciting time to be joining London Spirit! When I heard about the plans and the ambitions of Mo, MCC and the Tech Titans, I was really enthusiastic to join. To spend the English summer working at Lord’s is truly a dream come true. It is the ground where I made my debut for India and I played my last Test match – Lord’s is very close to my heart. I can’t wait to see the squad come together and to work with some exceptional cricketers next year.”