Richard Gould has forecast a “very long and successful future for The Hundred” regardless of the approaching departure of considered one of its chief masterminds on the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Even earlier than its inception into the home calendar two years in the past, the 100-ball competitors has polarised opinion whereas its place on the peak of summer time – the third season will happen from August 1-27 – has attracted intense debate.
Reports final month claimed the ECB was open to reviewing The Hundred, which remains to be solely performed within the UK, with one various being a T20 format of two divisions that includes promotion and relegation.
More scrutiny on its long-term future got here on Tuesday as Sanjay Patel, who led The Hundred’s creation and is its managing director, introduced he’ll go away the ECB on the finish of the 2023 competitors.
After paying tribute to Patel, ECB chief government Gould mentioned in a press release: “There’s no doubt that The Hundred has been a success, helping cricket reach new audiences, bringing in important revenue and propelling the game forwards.
“It plays an important role in our game and I’m looking forward to a very long and successful future for The Hundred.”
Gould and ECB chair Richard Thompson have been distinguished critics when The Hundred was first broached throughout their time at Surrey, however the pair have reversed that stance of their new positions.
Any main adjustments to The Hundred are unlikely to be launched within the short-term given the ECB’s broadcast partnership that runs till 2028 with Sky, one of many event’s main champions, whereas the BBC’s free-to-air association covers at the least the subsequent two editions.
The elevated publicity the ladies’s sport has had within the first couple of seasons is often highlighted as an unqualified success whereas there’s proof that the scheduling, advertising and ticket pricing have helped appeal to new followers and a broader demographic to cricket grounds.
A report from Worcestershire chair Fanos Hira, a chartered accountant, attaches a £9million loss to the primary two seasons however the ECB argues that it turned a revenue of £11.8m.
Patel, who first joined the ECB in 2015, mentioned: “I will miss this job and the people immensely but once we’ve completed the third season of The Hundred I believe the time will be right for me to look for a new adventure.”