Is The Hundred A Gimmick ?

[William51]

I watched The Hundred and found it a confusing extravaganza with confusing graphics. With the Twenty20 using 120 ball deliveries and The Hundred with 100 deliveries i do not see much difference. They should have just promoted The Twenty20 and not add another format . Is it just a money making gimmick ?.

[vulcan42]

bednobs, he was confused enough without bringing in that extra dimension. Attributed (tenuously) to the Marylebone Cricket Club.

[jno]

it's supposed to be quicker, so the BBC can show it. Sky aren't bothered if a match overruns on its cricket channel (and almost all do), but the BBC need to have them wrapped up on time. I believe teams have runs deducted if they fall behind the over rate?

The cricket board made a terrible mistake selling the game to Sky just after the 2005 Ashes. One day half the country is watching, next the audience has dropped off by I think about 80%. Sky's money has its advantages no doubt, but putting it on channels where few kids get to see it, they've lost half a generation of future fans. They're desperate to undo the error.

[New Judge]

//Aren't ODIs cricket then?//

Not really, no. They certainly don’t qualify as “First Class” cricket. All the professional level limited over stuff is simply a slogfest with none of the finer points considered.

//When I was at school, our school teams played timed matches against our opponents but just with a single innings,…//

All those variants sound fine for lower level cricket, Chris. What I’m talking about here is the stuff that they charge a fortune to go and watch. One day cricket among professionals is really like 5-a-side football or Rugby Sevens.

Limited over cricket has its place but I’m afraid the razamatazz surrounding the “100” is simply ridiculous. If I sound like a boring old fart that's fine because that's who proper cricket is designed for.

[jno]

NJ, ticket prices for the 100 are £5 for kids, "from" £10 for adults, for which you get two games. Not charging a fortune is part of the idea.

[New Judge]

I suppose you gets what you pays for :-)

[jno]

I doubt you'll get cricket much cheaper than that anywhere this side of the village green, and for that you have to help make cucumber sandwiches.