Georgia Adams, the Southern Brave captain, prepares her team for the women’s final on Sunday. They completed a strong group stage run, going 3-0 with every match having the quality of a knockout stage game. The rematch will take place in the hallowed Hall. Since 2021, men’s and women’s teams have contested summer in and around the historic ground as part of The Hundred explosive format. As the tournament enters its next phase of evolution, Adams is worried about the changes that are being suggested for how players are selected.
The Southern Brave have established themselves as the real force to be reckoned with in The Hundred. They won the championship in 2023 and finished with their heads held high as runners-up in 2021 and 2022. Their consistent performance has garnered attention, and they aim to maintain their winning streak against the Oval Invincibles, who are chasing a third consecutive title.
Ahead of their second season, The Hundred bosses are considering some pretty radical changes to the way that players are selected. Each team may now protect up to ten players from its roster. For the remainder of their draft class, however, they negotiate with other players within a draft system that features multiple price brackets. Vikram Banerjee, managing director of the Hundred, has put forward an intriguing new idea. He proposes an auction format modeled on that of the wildly successful Indian Premier League as one possible replacement. This proposal has received a largely negative reception from both players and coaches.
Adams has expressed her reservations about the auction concept, stating, “I wouldn’t be a fan of an auction because I just don’t see it fully working or having a great impact in this country.” Her perspective comes from an understanding that too much turnover in a team’s roster can adversely affect a team’s chemistry and playing ability.
As one of the leaders in the women’s game, Adams emphasized the importance of allowing players more agency in their career decisions. She noted that when it comes to free agency, players want to have a say in where they’re going. This further highlights the importance of a system that respects their decisions and encourages competitive balance.
“If you’ve got young families, you can go and watch the women’s game and leave halfway through the men’s before it gets rowdy.” – Georgia Adams
Fittingly, this feeling encapsulates many ongoing conversations about the future of women’s cricket in England. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould acknowledged that organizers are exploring options to “de-couple” some matches to promote standalone women’s fixtures. This decision greatly increases visibility and attendance for women’s matches, guaranteeing that they are treated with the same priority and focus as the men.
Adams has been a strong supporter of the current draft system. Unlike these proposals for an auction format, this system is locked in through 2026. She maintains that such rampant turnover from one year to the next might prevent adequate development and chemistry in a team. As Southern Brave captain and two-time women’s Big Bash League champion, Smriti Mandhana insists, the key to success is maintaining a nucleus of players. The Oval Invincibles demonstrate this approach, building their core of competitive players through successive seasons.
As the final draws closer, the anticipation grows for one of the most elite matches in college soccer history. Southern Brave’s 100% record means they have already qualified for the Eliminator and now stand an excellent chance of winning a second title. Conversations about better understanding and implementing player retention/re-recruitment strategies are forthcoming. These discussions have the potential to radically change the face of The Hundred in years to come.
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