| Place: Ageas Bowl, Southampton date: August 3 time: 19:00 BST |
| Coverage: Watch BBC Two live from 19:00 or Red Button and iPlayer from 18:30. Live BBC Radio 5 Live commentary on the BBC Sounds and BBC Sport websites and apps, as well as live text commentary and in-play clips. |
Hundreds of people came back.
British cricket’s latest tournament is back for a second season, with the opening match of the men’s tournament being broadcast live on BBC Two later on Wednesday at 19:00 BST.
With more international big names arriving this year, many of England’s best players will go head-to-head again.
Here’s everything you need to know about The Hundred in 2022.
What’s new in 2022?
It all starts all over again on Wednesday when the men’s defending champion Southern Warriors host the Welsh Fire in Southampton.
With many women athletes currently competing in the Commonwealth Games, the women’s competition will begin a week later on 11 August.
Last year, Covid-19 meant many big-name overseas players dropped out of their inaugural seasons, but this time there will be some of the best in the world, alongside Joe Root and Joss Butler, Nat Seaver and Heather Knight and other England stars side by side.
West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard and Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell are both set to play for the London Spirit in the men’s game, while another West Indies superstar Andre Russell has signed with Manchester Originals.
Arguably the field is stronger in the women’s game, with many of Australia’s all-powerful World Cup winners taking part in this year’s competition, along with other best players.
Australia captain Meg Lanning will play for the Trent Rockets, all-rounder Alice Perry will play for the Birmingham Phoenix and opener Alisha Healy will play for the Northern Superchargers.
England’s women’s players will play in all competitions, and England’s men’s white-ball players (such as Butler) will also play in the Manchester Originals.
If you need to refresh, the rules are the same as last year.
In The Hundred, a tournament that aims to be a simpler and faster form of cricket to attract a more diverse audience to the sport, with each team batting 100 balls in a match to score the most points team wins.
What else do I need to know?
The exits of England’s two biggest names Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow dealt a blow to the Centurion.
The pair were available for a few games at first, but were out of the break ahead of the start of the international Test series against South Africa on August 17.
England’s other Test players, such as Root and Welsh Flame’s Ollie Pope, are available before joining the squad ahead of the first South African Test.
The game remains controversial, with critics questioning its relevance and impact on the traditional form of cricket.
That said, about 85% of tickets have been sold, and a considerable number of them are women and under-16s.
As last year, the first place in the group stage will advance directly to the final at Lord’s on Saturday, September 3rd.
The teams finishing second and third will meet in the knockout round on September 2 for a chance to join them.
18 matches will be broadcast live on BBC TV and iPlayer – 10 men’s and 8 women’s matches, including two finals – and each match will also be broadcast live on BBC Radio.
The Hundred isn’t just about cricket – through a partnership between the Championship and BBC Music Introducing, all 34 matches will feature live music, with Brit winner Bastille performing in the final.
Who can win?
in the men’s game southern warriors Last year was the dominant side and they not only kept the squad together, including South African wicketkeeper Quinton De Cock and England bowlers Chris Jordan and Timor Mills, they also signed Australian all-rounder Marcus. Stonis.
trent rockets Already retaining Afghan leg spinner Rashid Khan and any team with his star qualities as well as batsmen like David Demaran and Alex Hales will have a chance.Don’t expect last year’s runner-up Birmingham Phoenix also.
The Braves were also the best team in most of the women’s games last year, though they lost to the Oval in the finals.
Brave has added Australian all-rounder Tahlia McGrath and 17-year-old England bowler Freya Kemp to an already talented squad.
This Invincible Putting hopes on back-to-back, their chances are likely to depend on the presence of inspirational captain Dane Van Nijke and her partner and South Africa international Marishana Karp.
Van Nijk is sidelined with an ankle injury, while Karp missed the Commonwealth Games after returning to South Africa for personal reasons, although the London side expect both sides to be fully functional.
If not, then Phoenix – With Perry, New Zealand internationals Sophie Devine and England internationals Amy Jones and Issy Wong – or rockets, Those with Lanning, Sciver, England bowler Katherine Brunt and Australian leg spinner Alana King can challenge.
How to follow a hundred people?
The Hundred will be widely covered by the BBC.
In addition to live TV and radio coverage, text commentary will be available on the BBC Sport website, as well as video highlights, analysis and reactions.
England internationals Heather Knight, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, Mark Wood and Issy Wong will all be part of the BBC’s commentary team.
On BBC Sounds, Alex Hartley and Kate Cross, now rivals rather than teammates, will provide a unique behind-the-scenes insight into the No Balls podcast following Hartley’s move from Cross’s Manchester Originals to Welsh Fire.
