'The Hundred' trial matches continue as ECB try to fine-tune new format
Saturday 29 September 2018 11:31, UK
Pilot matches for 'The Hundred' continued in earnest at Trent Bridge as the England and Wales Cricket Board looks to fine-tune its proposed new format.
Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel captained a 'North' side also containing Billy Root, while Kent's Alex Blake skippered a 'South' side in a match that trialled fielding substitutes.
In the first match on Monday, a 20-ball powerplay started the innings - with two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle.
Thereafter, the fielding captain could call a strategic two-minute timeout up to the 69th ball - although these are only allowed after every bowler's five-ball blocks. The coaches can enter the field of play during these two minutes.
The idiosyncrasies for the tentatively-titled 'The Hundred' are still to be confirmed but five-ball overs and changing ends every 10 deliveries have divided opinion sharply, and both of these proposals were on show.
This is the second pilot day at Trent Bridge, with one more to follow on Tuesday, while Loughborough will be the venue for the third women's day on September 27.
The North won the toss and racked up a score of 137-7 from their 100 balls.
It became apparent that bowlers could send down up to 10 deliveries at one time, even uninterrupted by the change of ends.
The South, led by Warwickshire opener Ed Pollock and Essex's Paul Walter, got off to a barnstorming start and reached 66 without loss after 25 balls, prompting Patel to call for the timeout.
A collapse ensued though as they went from 75 without loss to 128 all out after 97 balls to hand the North a nine-run victory.
The match was completed in two hours and 17 minutes.
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Patel said afterwards: "It was pretty good actually, it was different to what I was expecting. We're playing 20 balls less but there's not really much difference, to be honest.
"It did feel shorter. I know I bowled a lot of spinners, the interesting fact would be when I have to bowl the seamers, and how much time we have between overs, that kind of stuff.
"These trial games are just to see where we're at. I'm sure there will be different rules and regs that may come into it but, for this bit, I think it's been pretty good."
Asked if there were any alterations to the format he would make, Patel replied: "I can see the balls and I can see the runs (on the scoreboard) but I think from a visualisation from the crowd perspective, I think they need the balls remaining to be bigger on the screen.
"I reckon that you need to get that message across that there is a wow factor of balls left, not a little thing on the bottom of the screen where people won't be able to see it.
"You need an area where a board is up saying 'this is how many balls left'."
