The Hundred is back for 2023, bringing with it four weeks of spectacular entertainment and intense cricket action at the height of the summer.
After two hugely successful years, the competition is set to kick off on Tuesday 1 August promising high-octane men’s and women’s sporting action, live music, and a host of family-friendly entertainment.
More than half a million people attended games during The Hundred’s second year in 2022, including a record-breaking 271,000 watching live women’s fixtures across the competition and more families buying tickets than in 2021.
Alongside world-class cricket, fans were treated to memorable performances from a diverse line-up of artists and DJs including Bastille, The Big Moon and Priya Ragu, thanks to The Hundred’s ongoing partnership with BBC Music Introducing.
For the first time, this year’s opener will be played at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Taking place on Tuesday 1 August, the first fixture will see the defending men’s champions Trent Rockets taking on 2021 champions Southern Brave, while the women’s sides face off in a repeat of last year’s Eliminator.
Following a delay to the start of the Women’s Competition last year, due to women’s cricket being included in the Commonwealth Games, 2023 sees the return of double-header men’s and women’s matches from the very first fixture.
The defending women’s champions Oval Invincibles will be in action on the second day of the competition (Wednesday 2 August) as they take on hometown rivals London Spirit at Lord’s.
There will be an initial, exclusive window to purchase tickets from 1-14 March for anyone who has previously bought tickets for The Hundred.
Those yet to attend can sign up in advance at thehundred.com for priority ticket access from 5–18 April. Tickets will then go on general sale on Thursday 20 April. Tickets this year remain great value in line with 2022 pricing, with prices set at £5 for juniors aged 6-15, free for children five and under, and adults starting from £10.
The Hundred Eliminator, where second- and third-placed teams fight it out for a place in The Hundred Final, is confirmed for Saturday 26 August at The Kia Oval. The Final itself will take place on Sunday 27 August at Lord’s.
For the first time this year, The Hundred will see both the men’s and the women’s competitions host a draft. The date The Hundred Draft is due to be held is Thursday 2 March. Deadline day – the day on which retained players are confirmed across both competitions – is set to be Thursday 16 February.
Sanjay Patel, Managing Director of The Hundred said: “I am incredibly proud of the impact The Hundred has already had on cricket in England and Wales after just two years, providing a new format that has seen more families and a diverse new generation of fans getting into the game.
As we enter year three, we’re looking forward to building on that momentum and putting on another unforgettable summer of world-class cricket action and entertainment that will continue to appeal to new and existing audiences alike.”
Beth Barrett-Wild, Head of The Hundred Women’s Competition and Female Engagement at the ECB said: “We are in the middle of a really special period of time for professional women’s sport, with exponential levels of growth happening across every measure of engagement, from broadcast viewing figures to match day attendances.
Since launching in 2021, The Hundred has had a transformational impact on women’s cricket, propelling the women’s game into the mainstream, and making household names of our brilliant female players.
This summer is set to be even bigger, starting with the introduction of a player draft for the women’s squads in March – another first for professional women’s sport in the UK, and another example of how The Hundred is accelerating positive change in sport for women and girls.”
Oval Invincibles and England Women batter Lauren Winfield-Hill, who won The Hundred last year, said: “Lifting the trophy with my Oval Invincibles team-mates last year was a career highlight that I’ll never forget. The Hundred is such a thrilling competition to be a part of.
The support we had at every game was just phenomenal and I can’t wait to get back into action to defend the title this year. The first-ever women’s draft is definitely going to bring an exciting new element to the game and it will be interesting to see how the teams shape up for another fierce competition.”
England Men’s World Cup winner Dawid Malan, The Hundred’s top run-scorer last season and a 2022 champion with Trent Rockets, said: “I have a lot of great memories from The Hundred 2022.
The atmosphere in every ground was really enjoyable and winning the title at Lord’s was very special. This summer is shaping up to be massive for cricket in England and Wales and I’m really looking forward to the third year of The Hundred, playing with some of the best players in the world in front of big crowds.”
Over 14.1 million people tuned in to watch The Hundred action in 2022 and games will again be broadcast live on Sky Sports and BBC broadcast and digital channels throughout the competition.
To stay up to date with the latest news, buy tickets or to sign up for priority access, visit thehundred.com or follow The Hundred, and the eight teams, on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.