The men’s and women’s Hundred competitions will offer equal prize money to both men’s and women’s winners of this tournament.
Pic Credits: Sky Sports
The inaugural 100-ball competition will feature eight city-based teams. It will begin in July with the men’s and women’s events running simultaneously.
The prize budget of £600,000 will be split equally.
“It is brilliant news,” exclaimed England captain Heather Knight, who will lead London Spirit in The Hundred, told BBC Sport.
“To have equal prize money is a statement by the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] to put women’s cricket alongside men’s cricket.
“We have a long way to go to make women’s cricket as equal as it can be – but the signs are brilliant.”
The women’s Hundred will begin with Birmingham Phoenix’s match against Manchester Originals at Worcestershire’s New Road on 22 July and will end on 14 August at Hove.
Nine matches will be played as double-headers. The women’s fixtures will be played before the men’s games at the same venues.
While prize money is equal, the contracts for the women’s Hundred are far smaller than in the men’s competition. The highest women’s salary bracket is £15,000, compared to men who will get £125,000.
GREAT NEWS 🚨😃
The new 100-ball competition, THE HUNDRED will offer equal prize money to Men’s and women’s winners this summer. @ECB_cricket 👏👏#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/SuICC7sFV9
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 4, 2020
“It is about being realistic as well,” said Knight. “The women’s game has not been professional for that long. We have seen how the men’s game has built, and the women’s game will hopefully follow suit.
“It [prize money] will be a real boost for those players that will continue playing for a little longer and won’t have to worry about other jobs and paying the bills.
“I am sure there will be that extra push from them to get their hands on the big prize.”
The head of the women’s Hundred, Beth Barrett-Wild, said the equal prize money is an “important step in the right direction”.
“It’s recognition for the women’s players and the huge value they bring to The Hundred.“
“The England and Wales Cricket Board is committed to transforming women’s and girls’ cricket, from inspiring young girls to pick up a bat for the first time, through to establishing the women’s game as a professional career option,” Barrett-Wild further added.
The Hundred will be covered extensively across the BBC, including live television coverage of both finals on 14 and 15 August.
BBC will cover the Hundred extensively, including live television coverage of both finals on 14 and 15 August.
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