Despite the outcry from cricket purists, the Hundred was a roaring success in the summer of 2021 with non-cricket fans being drawn to the game like never before. The Hundred is now set for its second campaign in the summer of 2022, but before the first ball can be bowled, the tournament will hold its yearly draft.
On April 4th, the Hundred’s eight men’s teams will hold its annual draft allowing teams to add new faces and possibly retain old ones. Four of the big names in English cricket in this year’s draft are Tom Banton, Joe Clarke, Liam Dawson, and Laurie Evans, who all failed to reach new deals with their previous clubs.
Cricket fans around the globe have a lot to be excited about with the return of the Hundred. Bettors will have their chance to wager on the tournament on August 3rd when the first ball is played. Cricket fans can use the bet365 cricket betting bonus code to get a great offer when they sign up to the sportsbook.
The Hundred’s teams began negotiating with players and agents on December 1. Each team had the opportunity to retain a maximum of 10 players from last season’s squad. The retention window closed in mid-February, giving clubs over a month to get their draft boards prepared.
Salaries for the Hundred’s men’s players have been increased by 25% for the new season. The initial Hundred season in 2020 was cancelled to the COVID-19 pandemic and the delayed inaugural campaign saw some players unable to compete due to the various travel restrictions. Salaries were affected by the pandemic as well. Now, men’s teams will see an increase in the amount players are paid, which could lure more overseas cricketers to the tournament.
According to reports, most of the players entering the Hundred draft were offered new contracts by their previous clubs. However, those players turned down the offers for a few different reasons. Some players are looking for new opportunities after a lack of playing time in 2021. Meanwhile, some players are seeking higher salaries. There is still an uncertainty over the availability of overseas-based players. This has caused a demand in players based in Great Britain.
Clubs are allowed to use one right-to-match (RTM) card during the draft. The RTM card will allow a club to re-sign a cricketer from their 2021 team, as long as the club can match the salary another team has offered the player. The draft will use an American sports model as the teams will pick based on their finishing order from last place to first place.
Therefore, the men’s last-place team in 2021, the London Spirit, will select first, while the playoff champions, the Southern Brave, will pick last. It is hoped that the model will bring parity to the tournament and prevent the best team from stocking up on the top players.
The Hundred 2022 will see 58 regular season matches played in August and September. The tournament will again be contested by eight clubs, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, and Welsh Fire.
