Pros -

more free to air coverage

an excuse to actually explain the game at a very basic level to new viewers

an opportunity to get more top players competing on English/Welsh soil

allying entertainment to the game and maybe engage another new audience..

Cons -

nobody and I surely mean nobody thought 'what we really need is another new format especially one that is very close to an existing proven one'

Established cricket fans sighing eternally at the shoite graphics and cringe inducing coverage even when trying not to

As opening nights go, The Hundred's was surely as good as organisers could have hoped for.

A modern-day record-breaking crowd and a thrilling win for Oval Invincibles over Manchester Originals only told half the story.

As the match reached its thrilling climax, a noise alien to English cricket stadiums went around a ground.

Not 80s classics sung by well-oiled fans or roaring chants in support of the home team.

Instead, an excitable, rhythmic clap.

A young crowd was fixated not on the half-time music acts or fireworks, but on the sport unfolding in front of their eyes.

This was cricket, just not as we've known it.

The debate ever since The Hundred - cricket's newest format of 100 balls per innings - was announced three years ago has been some of the most intense cricket has seen.

The neon green and pink fireworks, blasted from roof of The Oval's historic pavilion as the players first emerged on to the field was almost a metaphor for the disharmony that has divided a sport.

Issues raised by critics of the tournament do not disappear after one game.

But, for a format billed as an opportunity to engage a new audience, this was an encouraging start.

The crowd was undoubtedly younger and more diverse than those seen at men's internationals, or in the current Twenty20 Blast.

Groups of young girls wandered into the famous old ground. Families took their seats with some children too small to hold a cricket ball, never mind swing a bat.

Instead of the bars, it was caterers selling pizza and ice cream that had the longest queues.

Spectators 'oooh-ed' and 'ahhh-ed' at a six or a four and cheered Manchester Originals bowler Kate Cross to the crease for a hat-trick ball, but there was a different feeling.

There is room in cricket for both - no-one at Trent Bridge for Pakistan's raucous win over England last Friday would have it otherwise - but this atmosphere was more like a chilled rooftop bar than boozy stag-do.

Cries of Sweet Caroline, a staple of cricket grounds in recent years, were replaced by the laid-back mixes of the resident DJ situated in the stand.

That same stage housed both the pre-match toss and a performance from singer Becky Hill, a recent chart-topper, during the break between innings.

Other new inclusions were white cards held-up by umpires to signal the end of an bowler's set of five balls, an LED tunnel through which players entered the field and the flames that erupted from the boundary edge after a four, six or wicket.

In total around 7,400 people attended the game, a number believed to be a record for a women's professional, domestic cricket match anywhere in the world.

A large number of those were given away free - but when the object is expanding in the game, does that really matter?

Some purists may have been put off - others may not have watched at all - but there were moments for them too.

A graceful four over extra cover by Manchester's Harmanpreet Kaur would have impressed anyone. She showed the touch and skill of Wimbledon's latest champion Ashleigh Barty, another who knows a thing or two about cricket.

The fast hands of Originals wicketkeeper Ellie Threlkeld to dismiss Marizanne Kapp were reminiscent of former England keeper Sarah Taylor.

But the best was yet to come.

As Oval Invincibles fought their way back into a contest the Originals looked set to win, the tension grew.

Cricket became the main event.

When Mady Villiers hit her England team-mate Sophie Ecclestone, the number one T20 bowler in the world, for six with 10 balls to go the crowd leapt to its feet.

Moments later Invincibles captain Dane van Niekerk hit the winning runs with just two balls left. The Hundred's biggest sceptics would have been stirred by the sight of spectators young and old dancing in the stands.

"We couldn't have asked for anything better to create a real buzz around the tournament," said England captain Heather Knight, part of the BBC commentary team.

"It was electric," a worn-out Van Niekerk added.

"The crowd was incredible. I don't think I have ever played a domestic game - bar the semi and final of [Australian T20 competition] the Big Bash - in an atmosphere like this."

Originals skipper Cross may have been beaten but she was breaking into a smile when she spoke after the game.

"It's the loudest crowd I've ever played in front of, including international cricket," she said.

The Oval is set to be close to capacity on Thursday when the same two teams open the men's competition.

The next question - can the men ride the wave the women have provided?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/57923883

Back in days of test cricket on tv
this would have bigger audience.

Should be good game tonite

High scores at oval still?

Wheels falling off my waggon!

Equivalent to 174 in a 20:20 match so very close imo.

2nd rate T20 for mums who's daughter has short hair or lads on the beverages

Hard to support a team in its first game.


Too much sh1te on my TV screen, distracting
from cricket.

Unlucky with runs bet... Lots
of shots went straight to fielders.

Do you really need about 10 commentators to sell it? Talking to any old bod should not interrupt the actual cricket. At the moment there are far too many interruptions. I haven't got a ruler out, but those graphics must take up about 15% of the screen, and because it is a ball rather than an over concept they can never put up the run rate per over required which is obviously quite useful. Can't believe they won't tweak it, if it is only the colours.

BBC supposedly championing women's cricket but most women's games relegated to the i-player.

Both Manchester teams look pretty weak on the evidence of the opening matches. Presumably, you are going to have to win at least 5/8 to be pushing for qualification.

I must confess that I now prefer 50 over matches over the others. They demand most of the disciplines of a test match but prevent bowlers using wide balls and time wasting tactics to influence the result. Also batsmen can't play for a draw. A well matched test is still great to watch but they are the exception.

"worth a lot of money"

There you have it in a nutshell.

They have reinvented the game of bat and ball.......or just repackaged it to get more money out of us. Good luck with that.

I Ashley like some of what they have done and involving young people. That is great. After all that it is still the same game..... bat and ball

Going to be a long 100 season if KP is on all season f hell he's a bore

I'm generally in favour of new formats of cricket as they may allow you an opportunity for good bets before the bots work it out; examples would be women's cricket a few years ago and the 10/10 competition.

This one is just a gimicky 20/20. I could forgive that but I can't forgive the sh!ty screen layout which detracts from not adds to watching. All formats of cricket all over the world realise what's necessary to put on the screen apart from this.

T20 going to have to adjust a little

Jesus, how small are these boundaries?!?

Thunder to the East but brighter to the West

Clue: read the rules. change ends every 10 balls regardless of who bowls them. Daft idea but at least I get it now.

Has there been any 10 ball overs in the competition?

Women's fielding close in is quite good. There used to be profit betting on the number of run outs in an innings/game as it was generally underestimated; people seemed to forget that the nearer the wicket fielders are the more likely a runout.

never mind ignore nonsense - sky sports mix. bloody weather