The Hundred Player Auction: A Fresh Era for UK Cricket
The Hundred is set to revolutionize its player acquisition process with the introduction of a player auction, marking a historic first for major sport in the United Kingdom. The inaugural auction will take place in London on March 11th and 12th, 2026, replacing the previous draft system used for the first five editions of the competition.
From Draft to Auction: A Shift in Strategy
For the first five years, teams selected players through a draft, operating within established salary tiers. However, following significant private investment, The Hundred is adopting an auction model similar to that of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This change is driven by new investors who also have ownership in IPL franchises, including MI London, Sunrisers Leeds, and Manchester Super Giants. Southern Brave, backed by Delhi Capitals, will retain its original name. BBC Sport reports this shift represents a significant evolution for the league.
Auction Schedule and Key Dates
The women’s auction will be held on March 11th, followed by the men’s auction on March 12th. The auction will be held at Piccadilly Lights, and will be live-streamed on YouTube, with a live blog also available. The Hundred’s official website provides details on how to follow the auction.
Financial Implications and Squad Composition
The salary pot for men’s teams has increased by 45% to £2.05 million per side, while the women’s team fund has doubled to £880,000. The minimum salary for female players has also risen by 50% to £15,000. Teams will be permitted to include up to four overseas players in their squads, an increase from the previous limit of three. BBC Sport details these financial changes.
Squads will consist of between 16 and 18 players, and teams were allowed to sign or retain up to four players before the auction. The auction will feature 16 franchises vying for over 200 eligible players. Sky Sports reports that Joe Root, Adil Rashid, Jason Holder, and Amy Jones are among the headline names available in the auction.
Auction Mechanics and Player Tiers
Players are categorized into three tiers – Hero, Ranked, and Nominated – based on the level of interest from teams. The Hero players will be the first to be auctioned, followed by Ranked and Nominated players. Teams submitted longlists of 75-100 players they were most interested in signing. Sky Sports provides further details on the auction process.
With 1000 players from 18 nations eligible, the auction promises to be a dynamic event, ushering in a new era for The Hundred and UK cricket.