We need to be honest about the Hundred: it feels as real as Ted Lasso | The Secret Cricket Coach

A cricket coach writing anonymously for The Guardian reflects on attending a Hundred match at Old Trafford, questioning whether the competition's manufactured identity — represented by the Manchester Super Giants branding — can coexist with the deep-rooted culture and history of county cricket. The author contrasts the stadium's tributes to Lancashire legends such as Farokh Engineer and Sir Clive Lloyd with the artificial feel of the Hundred's constructed rivalries, songs, and imagery. The piece argues that the Hundred lacks authentic connection to cricket's existing traditions and feels staged rather than organically grown.