The Hundred will be launched in 2021 instead of this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, the England and Wales Cricket Board has announced.
The revolutionary franchise competition, featuring a brand-new format and some of the world’s greatest players, was set to start this July.
However, the ECB has confirmed it will not be possible to stage the tournament this year as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
ECB chief executive officer Tom Harrison said: “The situation we find ourselves in as a country means that delivery of The Hundred will not be possible this summer.
“Whilst we are naturally disappointed that we won’t get to realise our ambitions this year, The Hundred will go ahead in 2021 when we are safely able to deliver everything we intended to help grow the game.”
The ECB ruled against staging The Hundred’s behind closed doors as it ‘directly contradicts’ the competition’s objective of attracting a new audience to the game.
Meanwhile, the governing body explained that many of the world-class players and coaches taking part would be unable to travel due to ongoing restrictions.
The rest of the domestic cricket season has been postponed until the start of July at the very earliest and counties face an uncertain financial future.
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With significant furloughing in place across the 20 venues due to host The Hundred, the logistics of launching this summer were made practically impossible.
It is hoped the new format, which will bring several revolutionary rule changes such as five-ball overs and 100-ball innings, will provide a much-needed financial boost once it’s up and running.
While the format has attracted criticism, it is set to be shown on terrestrial TV and generate £25m in annual financial distributions across the domestic game.
Harrison added: “As we emerge from the fallout of COVID-19, there will be an even greater need for The Hundred.
“Our survival as a game, long-term, will be dependent on our ability to recover financially and continue our ambition to build on cricket’s growing fan base.
“That need has not gone anyway, if anything, it is now more critical.”
England batsman Jonyn Bairstow, who will represent Welsh Fire, joined talkSPORT 2 this morning to explain why The Hundred could not go ahead behind closed doors.
He said: “There’s been a lot of effort and commitment gone into the competition but at the same time you don’t want to start and introduce a new competition if it potentially has to be played behind closed doors.
“You want to attract a new audience and captivate the country into a new game of cricket. So if people aren’t able to go and watch it, feel the atmosphere and experience it first hand then naturally it could be a bit tricky.”
