New owners, team names and much bigger budgets: the 2026 Hundred explained

The 2026 edition of the Hundred cricket competition begins on Tuesday with significant changes following the sale of stakes in all eight teams to private investors. The investment has brought more than £500 million into domestic cricket, resulting in changes to pay structures, coaching staff, player rosters, and team branding. The ECB's short-format competition is entering a new era with larger budgets and revised team identities under the new ownership model.