Insiders fear turgid pitches this year could damage growth of Hundred

Tournament insiders fear that a number of slow pitches are affecting the quality and entertainment of the Hundred and could risk the growth of the competition.

Organisers want to deliver a high-octane, high-scoring spectacle to attract new spectators and families to cricket, but there have been concerns this year about poor batting surfaces and a shortage of boundaries.

A lack of sixes in previous years was widely attributed to controversial tournament-branded balls, which had pronounced seams and large Hundred logos that helped to generate swing by weighing down one side. Those balls were ditched for this year’s competition in the hope of more boundaries, but a number of matches have now been hampered by slow and low surfaces.

The frustration is understood to have peaked after a match at Trent Bridge, singled out for being a “slow, turgid affair”. The fact that this particular fixture was one of the handful shown on free-to-air television on the BBC only amplified the concern that it did not showcase the tournament in its best light.

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