Postponement of The Hundred best option, says Yorkshire CCC chief Mark Arthur

YORKSHIRE chief executive Mark Arthur believes that The Hundred should be “launched properly” next year.
POSTPONED: England's Ben Stokes has been selected to play for Northern Superchargers, but is likely to have to wait until next year. Picture: John Walton/PA.POSTPONED: England's Ben Stokes has been selected to play for Northern Superchargers, but is likely to have to wait until next year. Picture: John Walton/PA.
POSTPONED: England's Ben Stokes has been selected to play for Northern Superchargers, but is likely to have to wait until next year. Picture: John Walton/PA.

Arthur feels it should be delayed for 12 months due to the impact of coronavirus.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is set to confirm a one-year delay at a board meeting tomorrow. Arthur believes it would be the right move due to the uncertainty over timings, the availability of overseas players and also the lack of a proper build-up.

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“It’s very important that we launch it properly without the concerns that we’re currently facing,” he said.

SELECTOR: Darren Lehmann will be head coach of Northern Superchargers for The Hundred. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.SELECTOR: Darren Lehmann will be head coach of Northern Superchargers for The Hundred. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
SELECTOR: Darren Lehmann will be head coach of Northern Superchargers for The Hundred. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

“It should be launched properly next year, in my opinion, to ensure that it works as well as it possibly can.

“At the moment, there’s a lot of unknowns concerning timings, with the ECB taking all their advice from the government as to when it would be appropriate to start playing again.

“The main priority this year financially is to get as much international cricket on as we can in this country, and to fill in any blank days with a domestic television game which, effectively, would be the T20 Blast, in order to fulfil as much of our contract with the broadcasters as possible.

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“When it comes to the Hundred, you also need the best players – it’s always about the players – and there would be uncertainty in that respect in any rescheduled tournament.

ON HOLD? Headingley will be the base for the Northern Superchargers but it is likely it will be 2021 when The Hundred eventually makes its debut. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.comON HOLD? Headingley will be the base for the Northern Superchargers but it is likely it will be 2021 when The Hundred eventually makes its debut. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
ON HOLD? Headingley will be the base for the Northern Superchargers but it is likely it will be 2021 when The Hundred eventually makes its debut. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

“Darren Lehmann has assembled a really good squad for the Northern Supercharges (the Emerald Headingley-based franchise), and Danni Hazell has got an excellent squad as well for the women. We’ve been genuinely looking forward to it.

“But it’s also absolutely vital that you have a decent build-up to the competition, which means activity with the All Stars and Dynamos Cricket programmes for children, and so on.

“I do believe that the competition has had traction; advanced ticket sales were very good across all venues, and I think with the right build-up to it that we would have had an outstanding tournament.”

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Around 180,000 tickets have been sold in advance for The Hundred, the ECB’s controversial plan to open up the sport to a notional audience.

HOLD IT: Yorkshire CCC chief executive Mark Arthur. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.HOLD IT: Yorkshire CCC chief executive Mark Arthur. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.
HOLD IT: Yorkshire CCC chief executive Mark Arthur. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

The format is expected to make a loss initially – a £7m deficit was projected this year, with losses set to continue for five years before the scheme hopefully turns to profit.

Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, has claimed that the pandemic and prevailing financial climate actually intensifies the need for The Hundred at a time when some have questioned the wisdom of introducing an expensive new competition.

“I don’t think this situation in any way dilutes the case for the Hundred, it absolutely accelerates it and makes it something cricket needs to get behind,” said Harrison on Friday, after the ECB announced that the season had been further delayed until at least July 1.

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“I am absolutely committed (to the Hundred), as I think the game is, because it will help us achieve stability for everything the game has cared about for hundreds of years.”

Australia's Aaron Finch has been selected to play for the Northern superchargers in The Hundred. Picture: Tim Goode/PAAustralia's Aaron Finch has been selected to play for the Northern superchargers in The Hundred. Picture: Tim Goode/PA
Australia's Aaron Finch has been selected to play for the Northern superchargers in The Hundred. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

The 18 counties are each set to receive £1.3m per year initially for agreeing to the Hundred, money that Yorkshire still expect to obtain.

“The £1.3m is part of the CPA (County Partnership Agreement), and I don’t think you can isolate that in any shape or form,” said Arthur.

“It’s just part of the general distribution (to the counties); it’s all merged into one, and we’re not expecting to lose it (the £1.3m).”

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However, Yorkshire had hoped to make around £2m in total from this year’s Hundred, which is due to run from July 17 to August 15.

It is just one aspect of the financial hit that the game is facing overall, with Harrison warning of a £300m shortfall if the entire season is lost.

Arthur remains hopeful that some cricket will take place, both internationally and domestically, but feels it is likely to do so only behind closed doors.

It is another reason why he believes it would be better to delay The Hundred rather than confine it solely for a television audience.

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“I don’t think it meets the objectives of the competition, playing it behind closed doors,” he said. “It’s all about the fun, the razzmatazz, the engagement with fans, and I don’t think we’d be able to achieve that objective as it stands this year.

“Everything about this year is going to be hugely disappointing – it’s not just The Hundred – and everybody is feeling it at the present time. The priority is for the ECB to put on as much international cricket as they can and, once there’s a plan for that, then the domestic game will follow.”

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