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.
Mini Mancs can learn what life is like for animals at the Science and Industry Museum this spring
Emily Sergeant
Science shows, sensory activities, and a blockbuster exhibition are just some of the things you can do at one of the region’s best loved museums this spring.
With Easter right around the corner, and schools across Greater Manchester and beyond set to be out for the spring break in a couple of weeks time, parents and carers will likely be looking for ways to keep the kids educated and entertained at the same time, especially if those classic Manchester April showers start to show themselves.
Even better if the activities are suitable for mini Mancs of all ages, and you don’t have to break the bank too much either.
By far one of the best places to escape the rain with your little ones in the city centre, the Science and Industry Museum has got a spectacular spring holiday programme packed with all sorts of things to be getting up to.
With the events programme running from Saturday 5 right through to the Easter Monday bank holiday on Monday 21 April, animal-loving visitors will discover what life is like for our furry friends by challenging their sense of touch in a special agility course, and watching live science shows led by the museum’s expert team of Explainers.
Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum has unveiled its spring holidays events lineup / Credit: Science Museum Group
Families can also take a break in the bat cave to learn more about these nocturnal creatures’ super senses, as well as make their very-own bat to take home.
Of course, while you’re there at the museum this spring holidays, it’s the perfect time to visit the Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You if you haven’t had the chance to already, or loved it so much the first time that you’re keen to go again.
If learning about the senses isn’t really your bag though, you can explore five decades of play in the ultimate gaming experience, Power Up, and discover just how far computer games have come over the years.
There’s science shows, sensory activities, a blockbuster exhibition, and loads more / Credit: Science Museum Group
“We’re delighted to be celebrating the senses this spring,” commented Chris Hill, who is the Public Programmes Producer at the Science and Industry Museum.
“We’re inviting everyone to see the science in the world around us by learning something new about your furry friends at home or creatures that live around the world. From tasting like a bee, being sneezed out of a giant nose, or testing your reaction times in Power Up, it’s going to be sense-sational.”
BOX sports bar on Deansgate is putting on the perfect night out for fans of horse racing
Danny Jones
With Cheltenham Festival 2024 coming up, both casual punters and die-hard horse racing fans are getting ready for the massive sporting weekend and Deansgate’s beloved sports bar, BOX, has come up with the perfect event to get in the mood for it.
Put simply, if you like the thrill of horse racing or the idea of race day vibes but aren’t so keen on the real thing, this might be perfect for you.
Simply dubbed ‘Race Night’, the new monthly series combines the virtual world and interactive games with one of the biggest sporting disciplines on the planet, as well as plenty of booze and food to go along with it. Oh yeah, and plenty of friendly competition, of course.
Revolving around a virtual horse racing simulator which everyone inside the bar can get involved with, BOX’s mini Manc version of Cheltenham has already got underway and you can be a part of it – plus it goes towards a good cause too.
Having now visited ourselves, we can confirm Race Night brings a proper party atmosphere and a healthy dose of wanting to rub your victory in your friends’ faces.
Don’t worry, they get plenty of those too, even if not the bragging rights all for themselves.
As you can see, it’s all quite simple: you place bets on the virtual horse racing events via your phone and watch the heats live on the many big screens located around BOX bar’s massive Manchester venue on the main Deansgate strip.
With a total of five races to try and win during the night, you’ll have plenty of chances to holler your head off and cheer on your winner. Whether you’re a pro, a ‘once-a-year flutter’ kind of person, or just joining your mates for a laugh, we can certainly voucher for the vibes.
Better yet, beyond the user-fuelled action on the telly, there’s plenty more entertainment to be enjoyed on the night, from BOX‘s regular DJs and live music to plenty of other interactive party games to give other guests a chance to win extra prizes.
A very fun and often silly party. (Credit: The Manc Group)
‘What’s the top prize?’, we hear you ask: how does a £200 bar tab sound?
Even from entry, your £5 entry fee scores you a complimentary glass of prosecco upon arrival and, as always, there’s plenty of delicious food and drink to tide you over throughout the night.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of how Race Night works:
Guests place their bets with fun money tokens through our virtual bookies on their phones.
You can bet on multiple horses per race but you are only paid out for the winner.
This payout goes directly into each of their betting accounts so will change throughout the event.
Odds are worked out via the software and vary by however many people bet on the same horse.
Races are pre-recorded – it all comes down to the luck of which horse you pick.
The winner is the person at the end who has the most fun money in their betting account.
The overall winner gets a £200 bar tab.
Table downstairs for our live band at 9pm.
Two rounds of the ‘Chair Jockey’ game: first to pop the balloon gets a round of shots for their table.
Put your inhibitions aside, folks – there’s booze to be won. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Set to happen every month, with the next event taking place from 7-9pm on Friday, 14 March – the week of this year’s Cheltenham Festival – you don’t want to miss out on the unique virtual and immersive sporting event.
You’ll also be glad to hear that all profits from the tickets, which are again just a fiver, will be donated to MNDA (Motor Neurone Disease Association), with a guaranteed minimum donation of £2.50.
Before you inevitably get off your seat to cheer on a digital horse and jockey, you can book yours HERE.
With just a few days left of the competition, it also happens to be one of the best places to watch the 2025 Six Nations.
Danny Jones -
7th June 2024 
