LONDON — The Hundred, England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) innovative 100-ball competition, is set for a landmark moment this spring. In a historic first for major sport in the UK, the inaugural player auction for the 2024 season will be a two-day event, taking place in London on 11 and 12 March. This extended format underscores the tournament's growing stature and the strategic importance placed on building competitive, star-studded squads for its fourth edition.
The decision to split the auction across two days marks a significant evolution from the previous draft system. It is designed to allow team coaches, general managers, and owners more time for strategic deliberation and negotiation, mirroring the high-stakes, televised auctions seen in tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL). The event will be held at the iconic Oval in London, a venue steeped in cricketing history, adding a layer of prestige to the proceedings.
A New Format for a New Era
The move to an auction format has been widely anticipated as The Hundred seeks to solidify its identity and appeal. While retaining its unique 100-ball-per-side structure and fast-paced, family-friendly matchday experience, the shift to an auction represents a deeper alignment with the global T20 franchise model. Each of the eight men's teams will have a purse of £1 million to spend, while the women's teams will operate with a £200,000 purse, reflecting the ECB's continued investment in the women's game. Sanjay Patel, Managing Director of The Hundred, emphasized the strategic thinking behind the change:
"The auction format allows for more dynamic squad building and greater strategic engagement from the teams."
The two-day structure is particularly crucial for managing the increased scale. Day One will focus on the women's competition auction, allowing the groundbreaking women's league to command the spotlight exclusively. Day Two will then be dedicated entirely to the men's auction. This separation ensures neither competition is overshadowed and provides dedicated broadcast and media coverage for each. Patel added, "Holding the women's auction on its own day is a clear statement of intent about the standalone importance of The Hundred women's competition."
The Marquee Names and Retention Drama
Ahead of the auction, the core of each squad has already been formed through player retentions. Teams were permitted to retain up to ten players from their 2023 squads, leading to some fascinating decisions and setting the stage for intense bidding wars for the remaining slots. Several global superstars have been retained, guaranteeing their presence in 2024:
- Rashid Khan (Trent Rockets, Men)
- Mitchell Starc (Welsh Fire, Men - a major coup)
- Smriti Mandhana (Southern Brave, Women)
- Jemimah Rodrigues (Northern Superchargers, Women)
However, the release lists have generated equal buzz. Notably, 2023 men's champions Oval Invincibles released their title-winning captain, Sam Billings, and star bowler Sunil Narine, throwing a huge chunk of their budget back into the auction pool. Similarly, the release of powerhouse hitters like Liam Livingstone (Birmingham Phoenix) and Will Jacks (Oval Invincibles) means several franchises will enter the auction with both the funds and the urgent need to secure a game-changing top-order batter.
The International Calendar Conundrum
A significant subplot to the auction strategy is the congested international schedule. The 2024 Hundred season (July 23 - August 18) overlaps with the second half of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and concludes just days before the start of a high-profile Test series between England and Sri Lanka. This creates complex availability windows for players. Teams must carefully weigh the value of securing a star who may only be available for part of the tournament. ECB officials have been working with other boards to clarify windows, but this uncertainty will be a key factor in bidding tactics. A team director, speaking anonymously, noted, "You're not just bidding on talent, you're bidding on available talent. It adds a whole other layer of risk and calculation."
What to Expect on Auction Days
The auction will be a closed-door event attended by team management, but live updates and analysis will be broadcast across The Hundred's digital channels and via sports media. The process will follow a serpentine order, with teams taking turns to nominate players for bidding. Each squad must fill a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 "overseas" slots across their 17-player rosters. With over 300 players—both domestic and international—entered into the auction pool, the two days will be a frantic mix of strategic patience and aggressive bidding. Key areas of focus for teams will include:
- Power-hitting openers to capitalize on the 25-ball powerplay.
- Versatile all-rounders who provide balance.
- Death-bowling specialists to close out innings.
- Dynamic finishers for the final 20 balls.
A Historic Moment for UK Sport
The two-day auction represents more than just a player acquisition event; it is a symbolic step for The Hundred and for British sport. No other major UK team sport employs a live, multi-day auction system for its primary player recruitment, placing cricket at the forefront of sporting innovation domestically. The hope is that this spectacle will generate significant pre-season buzz, engage fans in squad-building narratives, and elevate the commercial and competitive profile of the tournament. Beth Barrett-Wild, Head of The Hundred Women's Competition, highlighted the broader vision:
"This is about creating moments and stories that begin long before the first ball is bowled. The auction is the first chapter of the new season."
As March approaches, the strategies are being finalized in team war rooms. Analysts are crunching data on player performance under specific conditions, coaches are assessing squad balance, and owners are eyeing the marquee names that could fill stadiums. The inaugural Hundred auction on March 11th and 12th is poised to be a dramatic, game-changing event that will reshape the eight franchises and set the narrative for what promises to be the most competitive season of The Hundred yet.