On August 5, 2025, England’s innovative cricket competition, The Hundred, launched its fifth season with much fanfare, drawing attention from both die-hard fans and curious newcomers across the globe. Held at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, the opening double-header featured the reigning women’s champions, London Spirit, and the defending men’s titleholders, Oval Invincibles. Both teams secured convincing victories, setting the tone for a month-long tournament that promises speed, skill, and spectacle.
Designed to revolutionize traditional cricket and broaden its global appeal, The Hundred compresses the action into 100-ball matches, with each team receiving a single innings of 100 deliveries. The format is even shorter than the popular Twenty20, and it’s deliberately crafted for fast-paced, high-energy viewing. Since its inception in 2021, the competition has drawn praise for making cricket more accessible, especially among younger viewers and those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the longer formats like Test and One-Day Internationals.
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This season, the tournament once again brings together eight city-based franchises: Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, and Welsh Fire. Each franchise fields both a men’s and women’s team, and in a progressive move, all matches are scheduled as back-to-back doubleheaders. This not only ensures equal exposure for women’s cricket but also enhances the fan experience by delivering full-day entertainment in a single ticket.
Star power remains a major draw. This year’s tournament boasts an impressive international roster, including England’s explosive batter Jos Buttler, Australia’s legendary Ellyse Perry, seasoned Test cricketer Steve Smith representing Welsh Fire, and Nat Sciver-Brunt, one of the top all-rounders in the women’s game. The presence of globally recognized names underscores the tournament’s growing reputation and its increasing value as a platform for elite cricket talent.
Running through August 31, the competition is structured so that each team plays multiple round-robin matches, with the top three teams advancing to the playoff stage. The second- and third-placed teams will face off in an Eliminator match, and the winner will take on the top-ranked team in the grand final at Lord’s. The structure is simple, competitive, and designed to maintain fan engagement throughout the month.
Beyond the boundary, The Hundred is also breaking new ground in terms of accessibility. In the United Kingdom, every match is broadcast live on Sky Sports, while 16 high-profile fixtures, including the tournament openers and the finals, are available for free on BBC Two and streamed via BBC iPlayer. This blend of subscription and free-to-air coverage has helped make cricket more accessible than ever before to a domestic audience.
Internationally, the tournament’s reach is expanding at an impressive pace. In the United States, all matches are streamed live through Willow TV, which is available as a standalone service or as part of Sling TV’s cricket and South Asian packages. With plans starting at around $10 per month, the platform is cost-effective and already familiar to the growing cricket-watching demographic in North America. For fans in India, matches are available through Fancode, while viewers in Australia can tune in via Kayo Sports or Fox Cricket. In regions where no official broadcaster is available, the tournament also offers streaming through its official YouTube channel, ensuring global reach.
The use of digital platforms reflects the organizers’ understanding of how today’s audiences consume sports. Cricket’s digital evolution has made it possible for fans in Miami, New York, Sydney, or Mumbai to watch the same match simultaneously. The growing trend of using VPN services also enables fans traveling abroad to stream matches as if they were back home, ensuring continuity and convenience in viewership.
In the United States, where Major League Cricket is helping to popularize the sport, The Hundred plays a crucial complementary role. Its quick-fire format, combined with the presence of international stars, acts as a gateway for new fans. The blend of entertainment, athleticism, and narrative storytelling fits well with American sports culture, which values high-impact moments and dynamic broadcasting.
The opening weekend of the 2025 tournament proved once again why The Hundred has become one of the summer’s most exciting cricket events. Stadiums were filled with families, young fans, and traditional supporters, all cheering on their teams in a format that prioritizes energy and inclusivity. Colorful team kits, pulsating music, on-field mic’d-up conversations, and post-match fireworks contributed to an atmosphere that felt more like a festival than a sporting contest.
As the month progresses, anticipation will grow around which teams will make the final push for the playoffs. The tournament’s unique structure means that consistency is key, but one explosive performance from a star player can shift the standings dramatically. The stakes are high, and each match brings drama, surprise performances, and the chance for young players to become overnight sensations.
By the time the finals roll around on August 31, The Hundred will have delivered nearly four straight weeks of action-packed cricket, helping to bridge the gap between tradition and innovation. It’s not just a tournament—it’s a movement designed to propel cricket into a new global era. And judging by the opening days, it’s succeeding.