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The ECB will no longer use white Kookaburra balls with Hundred-branding after player criticism for low scores. They will switch to the T20 Blast balls for the 2025 campaign.
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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided not to use the white Kookaburra balls with Hundred-branding after they were criticised by several players for low scores in last year’s tournament, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Despite the shorter format theoretically favouring more aggressive hitting, the men’s Hundred had a scoring rate of just 1.37 runs per ball last season, much lower than other short formats like the IPL, Major League Cricket, and the SA20.
Players blamed the batch of balls used, with specialised new-ball bowlers like Tim Southee and Daniel Worrall excelling.
“The seam seems to be massive. Every game, it seems the ball is nipping. Most teams are 30 for 5 in most games,” Moeen Ali was quoted as saying by Cricketer.
The ECB conducted a comprehensive study over the winter, which revealed little evidence that the balls performed differently from other white-ball cricket used throughout England and Wales, despite Kookaburra’s claim that they were manufactured to the same specifications beyond the logo.
The ECB has decided to abandon the Hundred-branded balls and switch back to the same set used in the T20 Blast for the 2025 campaign. They hope this change, prompted by repeated negative feedback, will satisfy players and result in quicker scoring rates due to the perception of less support for bowlers.
However, the change made no apparent difference in Tuesday night’s curtain-raiser, with London Spirit’s men bowled out for 80 by Oval Invincibles on a slow, low surface.
“It was a tough wicket to bat on,” Rashid Khan said after taking 3 for 11 on his debut for the two-time defending champions.
What Is The Hundred?
The Hundred is a 100-ball cricket competition as eight city-based women’s and men’s teams compete over five weeks every summer.
Each innings consists of 100 balls, making every ball crucial. The team with the most runs wins. The fielding side changes ends after every 10 balls. Bowlers can deliver either five or 10 consecutive balls, as decided by the captain. Each bowler can deliver a maximum of 20 balls per game.
Each bowling side has a strategic timeout of up to 90 seconds, during which the coach can walk onto the field to discuss tactics with the players. Each team is given a 25-ball powerplay at the beginning of their innings. During the powerplay, only two fielders are allowed outside the fielding circle.
(With inputs from ANI)
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
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