Women's Hundred's inaugural season embarks on uncharted territory; Perrin's epoch not to be overshadowed as its pinnacle achievement

The Hundred, England's revolutionary cricket competition, is on the brink of change. With new investors taking control, the future of the competition and its women's game is a topic of much discussion.

The double-header model in The Hundred has been a success, boosting the competition as a whole and the women's game in England. Over the last five years, the competition has driven growth in every measure across the women's game.

Alice Capsey, the original poster-girl for The Hundred, has become an England regular. Her talent and dedication have made her a shining star in the cricket world. Similarly, Issy Wong's WPL hat-trick kept her as one of the most marketable English cricketers, even while she was not part of the national side.

One of the youngest players ever signed in The Hundred, Davina Perrin, made headlines with her swagger reminiscent of West Indies cricketers Viv Richards and Brian Lara. She learned this style from YouTube videos shown to her by her father. In a remarkable feat, Perrin scored the fastest century on record by an English woman in a cricket match. Her family was there to celebrate with her when she achieved this milestone.

However, these changes have caused some anxiety among women players. Past experiences of being let down by those in control have left them wary. Beth Barrett-Wild, director of the women's professional game in England, has stated that certain elements of the women's competition, such as the shared platform and co-position of the men and women, are protected through legal documents.

ECB chief executive Richard Gould has stated his ambition for at least a partial decoupling of the men's and women's competitions in The Hundred. This could potentially double ticket sale revenue and give the women's competition space to shine in its own light.

Vikram Banerjee, managing director of The Hundred, has insisted that the new owners have "bought into" the "two for one deal" when they purchased the teams. Two out of the four investors who own IPL teams successfully bid for WPL franchises in 2023.

There is, however, a concern that these new investors may prioritize their men's teams over the women's competition. This could lead to uncertainty and potential short-changing of the women players, who have been consistently underpaid despite the equal platform in The Hundred.

As we move forward, it is essential to ensure that the women's game continues to thrive and that the progress made in The Hundred is not compromised. Keep up with us for all the latest updates on The Hundred, including live scores, match stats, player updates, team standings, and more.

Women's Hundred's inaugural season embarks on uncharted territory; Perrin's epoch not to be overshadowed as its pinnacle achievement