ECB chiefs’ preferred idea of expanding tournament to 18 teams will go down well with counties, but less so with investors and broadcasters
Changing the format of the Hundred and the possibility of private investment in English cricket moved a step closer on Friday when the England and Wales Cricket Board was given the green light to take new proposals to the counties.
Richard Gould, the ECB chief executive, and Richard Thompson, the chairman, will now meet with counties to discuss their two ideas: private investment in the eight Hundred teams eventually increasing it to 10; or replacing the competition with a pyramid tournament involving the 18 counties across two divisions, similar to the current Blast.
The second proposal, described by insiders as an ‘investible pyramid’, is preferred by Thompson and Gould and would see teams shared equally by private investors, the county and the ECB. They believe it will unite the game and end the division between the counties and the Hundred. However, it will face major opposition from the Test grounds who currently host franchises and mean ripping up the Hundred and starting again.
The other option, to sell the current eight Hundred teams to private investors, would copy similar franchise models around the world, and attract interest from India, Saudi Arabia and investors in the United States. A third option of just selling the entire tournament was turned down last year when private investors Bridgepoint offered £400 million for a 75 per cent stake, but could also still be a possibility.