The Hundred is set to be smashed like a straight six into our lives this summer for the first time – after last year’s postponement due to Covid.
The picks have been released and the teams decided, but can we expect to see a trophy lifted at Headingley this year?
The newly founded tournament is set to see a new and exciting variant of cricket; one that appeals to the masses and creates intrigue within people to inspire the next generation.
And with a whole host of home-grown Yorkshire talent on show performing for the supercharges, there’s no better way to bring cricket back to God’s Own County!
The tournament is set to combat T20 for crickets vibrant and entertaining status, it differs from the conventional over system scrapping six balls and upping to ten balls per over.
As the name suggests, the Hundred will also adopt a ten-over system, meaning 100 balls will be played per inning, a quick match that should see some big hitting!
Franchise teams
Teams won’t compete in their county cricket club. The supercharges have heavily recruited from a pool of players already currently playing for the Yorkshire Diamonds (women) and Yorkshire County Cricket Club (men).
Clubs have also now been formed as a franchise with some counties combining their ranks depending on the area of the country they reside in.
Yorkshire has joined with Durham and Northumbria to establish the ‘Northern Supercharges’. The Supercharges will play all their home matches at Headlingley in Leeds.
Each team will play four home matches and four away matches, subsequently merging into a play-off system for the table toppers.
So who can we expect to see representing Yorkshire at the Hundred this summer?
It is no wonder that the Superchargers have been touted as one of the league favourites after their draft picks were released.
They have brought together overseas and home-grown players, most notably the likes of England World Cup Winners Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes to represent them this summer.
Fantastic Yorkshire County Cricket Club players feature, in the form of Harry Brook, Adam Lyth, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and York-born Matthew Fisher for the upcoming competition who slot straight in to bring the trophy back to Yorkshire.
The women’s team have also played their part in the bid for success by being well-represented by numerous Yorkshire-based talents including Yorkshire Diamonds’ very own Hollie Armitage, Beth Langston, Katie Levick, Linsey Smith and Bess Heath, as well as York-born wicket keeper Lauren Winfield-Hill.
The tournament that is set to start mid-July and last till early September, so hopes are high that fans will be able to go along and enjoy this feast of sport.
Whether you’re an avid cricket fan keen on eyeing up the new tournament, or just someone who wants to get in some fancy dress and have a laugh, this tournament could just be the thing for you!
The Northern Supercharges start their home campaign on 24 July when both teams take on Welsh Fire at Headingley, with the women’s team getting underway at 2.30pm and the men at 6pm.
It is worth noting that every fixture date will see both teams compete on the same day. against the same opponent. See the rest of the fixtures below.
Picture : Yorkshire County Cricket Club