Cricket fans, be ready to be bowled over because the return of The Hundred is nearly upon us and the anticipation is already starting to ramp up – as are the ticket sales.
Now entering its fourth year, cricket’s newest and most exhilarating format is set to be bigger than ever and, yes, we know people always say that but we really do mean it.
First set up back in 2021, The Hundred has gained a massive following all over the UK in a very short space of time, not least because of all the action going on off the pitch as well as on it.
With less than 50 days left to go before Manchester Originals and the rest of the teams get underway for a month of fast-paced cricket amongst an already jam-packed summer of sport, we thought we’d give you a rundown of everything you can expect from this year’s competition.
We cannot wait.
How does The Hundred work?
For anyone new to the tournament, The Hundred is a much shorter form version of the game than the likes of test matches and it’s also much easier to understand for casual fans or anyone who’s completely new to the world of cricket – that’s why it’s become so popular. Here’s the gist:
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100 ball cricket
It’s 100 balls per innings; whoever scores the most runs wins.
The fielding side change ends after 10 balls.
Bowlers deliver either five or 10 consecutive balls – the captain decides.
Each bowler can deliver a maximum of 20 balls per match.
Timeouts
Each bowling side gets a strategic timeout of up to 90 seconds.
The coach can walk out to the middle of the ground and discuss tactics with their players mid-match.
Powerplays
A 25-ball powerplay for each team.
Two fielders are allowed outside of the initial 30-yard circle during the powerplay.
How long are the games?
A match of The Hundred will last two and a half hours.
Straightforward enough, right?
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Credit: Supplied (via The Hundred)
Tickets for The Hundred in Manchester
With the Originals home games starting from 25 July, Manc fans will have four opportunities to catch the excitement at the Emirates Old Trafford, though we have every faith they can make it all the way to the Final at Lord’s in London.
The Hundred’s Manchester fixtures for 2024 are as follows:
Thursday, 25 July: Manchester Originals vs Welsh Fire (women’s start 3:00pm, men’s at 6:30pm) – and tickets selling fast, by the way.
Sunday, 11 August: Originals vs Northern Superchargers (women’s 2:30 pm, men’s 6:00pm) — tickets are selling fast for this regional derby too.
This particular tournament also happened to be one of the most affordable ways to watch cricket in the entire sporting calendar, with tickets costing £5 for under-16s and prices starting from just £17 for adults in the early bird window which ends on 27 June, so you best be quick if you want to get the best deal.
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You can find the full list of Hundred fixtures at various other grounds HERE.
Credit: Supplied/The Manc Group
Manchester Originals squad for 2024
The homegrown hopes of a first Hundred trophy are looking stronger than ever this year, with a seriously talented roster for both the men’s and women’s teams.
Captaining the Manchester Originals men’s team once again will be England‘s very own white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, whose 391 runs in 2023 secured him the title of The Hundred’s highest-run scorer.
The women’s team will also see the return of last year’s captain, Sophie Ecclestone, a.k.a. the number one women’s bowler in the world. Also back for another year with the Originals are national men’s duo Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue, as well as Emma Lamb and Mahika Gaur.
Lastly, the Originals have bagged several new world-class international talents too, including Australian wicket-keeper Beth Mooney and all-rounder Sophie Molineux on the women’s team, as well as Sikandar Raza, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Pakistan’s superb leg-spinner, Usama Mir, on the men’s team.
Another reason The Hundred has become such a hit with die-hard cricket fans and newcomers alike is that the organisers make sure that there’s plenty going on in between plays too.
From pulse-raising pyros and light shows before, after and during the games (there’s nothing quite as rousing as seeing flames shoot into the air when someone smashes a six), to the DJ sets and live music performances each day through The Hundred’s partnership with BBC Introducing, it’s non-stop fun.
There is tonnes going on around the concourse too, with free batting and bowling games for spectators, a dedicated kids play area; plenty of merch stands for you to get decked out in your home colours, not to mention more food and drink than you could shake a stick at.
The Hundred’s full artist lineup has also just been revealed very soon and don’t forget to download the official app to get a complete list of all the other activities and goings on.
So, as you can see, The Hundred really is going to be massive this year and besides watching the games themselves, each double-header day is stacked with plenty of other family-friendly things to get stuck into.
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That’s why we love it.
As mentioned, with under-16s tickets costing just a fiver and the early bird for adults only £17, the games in Manchester are already flying but you’ve still got enough time to grab your seats at the Emirates Old TraffordHERE.
We’re glad to inform you that The Hundred isn’t the only big cricket push happening in and around Greater Manchester this summer either.
Cheshire Oaks is hosting a FREE exclusive gig this summer to celebrate its 30th anniversary
Daisy Jackson
Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet will be celebrating its 30th anniversary with a huge, free concert that’ll hark back to the 2000s.
The hugely popular shopping destination, where visitors can save big on luxury brands, will be inviting customers to a totally free summer gig on a stage built on site.
It’s part of the wider 30th anniversary celebrations, and will include a headline performance from a top-secret 2000s music act.
All they’ve revealed about the headliner so far is that they have a catalogue of number one singles and beloved hits…
But also on the line-up that has been confirmed is a DJ set from Take That legend Howard Donald, and a hosting slot from Hits Radio DJ Kimberly Wyatt.
There are still supporting acts to be announced in due course, with Cheshire Oaks promising ‘high energy and big personality’.
Taking place in the evening of Friday 6 June, the Cheshire Oaks 30th anniversary party will be free to shoppers and visitors.
And a select group of VIPs from the local community will have the opportunity to meet the mystery headliner in person.
Cheshire Oaks is hosting a FREE exclusive gig this summer to celebrate its 30th anniversary
Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet will be giving back to its local charity partners, including The Hospice of The Good Shepherd, Koala, Flynns Port in the Storm and Claire House amongst others, as well as its staff and their families, with exclusive golden circle access for the best seats in the house.
The anniversary gig is part of the shopping village’s ongoing celebration of its three-decade-long history.
Earlier this year, Cheshire Oaks unveiled its 2025 Style Report, revealing that 63% of Brits now prefer shopping in person rather than online, as well as the resurgence of nostalgic fashion trends from the 90s, from baggy trousers to full denim looks.
It’s the UK’s largest designer outlet, with more than 400,000 sq ft of retail space and more than 165 brands.
Kenny Murray, general manager at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, said: “This anniversary is a moment to celebrate the rich history and vibrant future of Cheshire Oaks. We have evolved continuously over the last three decades, and now it’s time to celebrate in true style.
“Over our 30 years we’ve built a real sense of community that makes this centre special and we want to celebrate this milestone with the local area and people so close to our heart.
“This summer’s music event, crowned by a secret headline act, promises to be a truly special experience, and a way that we can give back to the loyal customers who have trusted us to bring them the latest fashion trends since the 90s, we can’t wait to enjoy it with them.”
For more information about Cheshire Oaks and its upcoming summer gig, head HERE.
The local property developers helping Mancs buy a home without the large deposit
Emily Sergeant
A North West developer that specialises in creating Shared Ownership homes currently has eight new developments under construction across Manchester.
Getting your foot on theproperty ladder or taking the next step to owning a bigger home can be one of the most challenging things to do and is often not financially viable for a lot of people – and this is whereGecko Homes‘ unique Shared Ownership scheme comes in.
The developer is enabling first time buyers and other qualifying homebuyers to purchase shares in its homes instead.
With deposits from as little as £2,438, the scheme means residents can buy shares ranging from 10% all the way up to 75% instead and then pay rent on the rest, with the option to increase the share percentage at later dates, all the way up to outright ownership.
Gecko Homes is helping Mancs get on the property ladder / Credit: Supplied
As mentioned, the company is currently working on eight new developments across Manchester in some of the city’s most sought-after suburbs, and prospective buyers can now register their interest.
One of the most popular developments currently underway is ‘Tatton Place’ in Sale – which is a redevelopment of a historic Masonic Hall and police station into 31 homes, including two and three-bedroom houses, one and two-bedroom apartments, and several stunning duplexes, all with access to both private and communal gardens.
Another key development is ‘Emerald Way’ over in the popular Manchester suburban town of Chorlton, where prices start from £60,625 for a 25% share, meaning a buyer would only need a deposit of £3,031.
Over in West Didsbury is one of largest ongoing developments called ‘Two Didsbury Point’, which is a £20 million scheme of 76 affordable homes across two connected eight and five-storey blocks – 46 of those being for shared ownership – on the site of the former Withington Hospital, with an outdoor communal terrace and green spaces for residents to enjoy.
Another one of the developments currently in the works that prospective buyers can now register their interest for is ‘Boundary View’, which lies in the thriving Manchester community of Old Trafford.
“Our Shared Ownership model has transformed people’s lives by giving them a way onto the property ladder in a modern, stylish, and high-quality home that they can afford to live in,” explained Christina Tattersall, who is the Head of Sales at Gecko Homes.
Eight developments are currently underway across Manchester / Credit: Supplied
“All of our latest developments are already generating high levels of interest from local people who want to live in some of Manchester’s most popular and vibrant suburbs that all benefit from great amenities and regular transport links.
“Each development will be finished to a very high specification, with contemporary kitchens and bathrooms, as well as luxury floorings and quality fixtures and fittings throughout.”
Residents interested in any of these developments are asked to visit Gecko Homes’ website here to find out more and register their details now.
Prices shown are based on 25% Shared Ownership and a 95% LTV mortgage. All properties are bought as leasehold, with full terms applying, and prices shown may be subject to change and are a guide only.
Danny Jones -
7th June 2024 
