ECB ditches controversial Hundred-branded balls

The ECB has ditched a controversial batch of white Kookaburra balls that was blamed for low scores in the Hundred last year after consistent negative feedback from players.

Scoring rates in the men's Hundred dipped to 1.37 runs per ball last season, significantly lower than other short-form leagues like the IPL, Major League Cricket and SA20 despite the shorter format in theory lending itself to more attacking batting. Specialist new-ball bowlers like Daniel Worrall and Tim Southee thrived, and players anecdotally blamed the batch of balls used.

The balls used in the first four seasons of the Hundred had the tournament's logo - a large 'H' - imprinted on them, which players felt required additional lacquer and gave them a 'plasticky' feel. "The seam seems to be massive," Moeen Ali told the Cricketer. "Every game, it seems the ball is nipping. Most teams are 30 for 5 in most games."

Kookaburra insisted that they were made to identical specifications as the white balls used in other domestic and international cricket, beyond the logo, while the ECB commissioned an extensive study over the winter which found minimal evidence that the balls behaved differently to those used in other white-ball cricket in England and Wales.

Ball-tracking data did suggest a spike in seam movement and swing at the start of Hundred games in 2023 (compared to 2022), which continued last season. This was attributed primarily to pitches, weather, and the Hundred's unique format - which allows bowlers to bowl 15 of the first 20 balls - rather than any change to the condition of the balls.

But the ECB has opted to ditch the Hundred-branded balls regardless, reverting to the same batch used in the T20 Blast for the 2025 season. Their hope is that the switch will satisfy players after consistent negative feedback and that the perception of less assistance for bowlers will lead to higher scoring rates.

The change made no apparent difference in Tuesday night's curtain-raiser, with London Spirit's men bowled out for 80 by Oval Invincibles on a slow, low surface. "It was a tough wicket to bat on," Rashid Khan said, after taking 3 for 11 on debut for the two-time defending champions.