First major British sport player draft live on TV

Fans can register interest for The Hundred tickets from today

The squads of eight brand-new cricket teams will be finalised on 20th October, when The Hundred’s first ever men’s player draft takes place.

Viewers can watch British sporting history unfold live, as teams are chosen from a pool of overseas and England stars, plus the best home-grown talent.

The men’s draft will be shown live by Sky Sports from 7pm, with extensive coverage across the BBC. Both broadcasters will offer fans in-depth build up and previews in the days before, as well as post-draft reaction. It will take place at Sky Studios in west London.

Sky will build towards the draft with coverage across Sky Sports, Sky Sports News and its online and social media channels. The BBC will also offer extensive previews across its online, mobile and digital channels, as well as live reporting of the draft as it happens.

The Hundred launches in July 2020 and offers exciting 100-ball cricket featuring some of the world’s best players playing for eight teams that will be unveiled later this year. The Hundred will also feature men and women’s competitions from launch, a first for world cricket. Further details on the women’s competition will be announced in due course.

Fans can register their interest in tickets and information from today via www.thehundred.com. Tickets go on sale in October.

Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive Officer said: “The Hundred is an exciting new cricket competition that we hope will grow our wonderful sport even further. Fans can enjoy some of the world’s biggest names playing for eight brand new cricket teams across men and women’s competitions. I’m sure there will be huge anticipation ahead of the first men’s players draft in October, as each of the squads are finalised live on Sky Sports and across the BBC.”

Complementing its other county and international competitions, The Hundred is being launched to offer world class cricket, with matches completed in less than 2.5 hours.

Created with the game, for the benefit of the game, the men’s and women’s Hundred competitions have the simple aim of helping to create cricket fans in our changing environment.

The ECB is currently consulting with the PCA and counties on draft mechanics and specifics and further details will be announced in due course.