Latest news with #TheHundred
The Star
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Giggs gets a kick out of small-sided games, but insists 11-a-side still the foundation
On the ball: Ryan Giggs fielding questions from reporters during the event. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star PETALING JAYA: Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs is embracing the rise of small-sided football formats like the Ballers League, but insists that traditional 11-a-side football remains the sport's foundation and will never be replaced. Speaking before the start of the Liga 7x7 All-Stars tournament at the Cheras Football Stadium yesterday, Giggs acknowledged the growing popularity of five-a-side and seven-a-side competitions that mix former pros, influencers and celebrities – but was clear about the balance the sport needs to strike. 'Yeah, I think there's room for both,' said Giggs. 'Obviously, 11-a-side will always be there. It's your bread and butter – every league and every international competition in the world is built on it. But I think smaller formats of the game are exciting too. Quicker matches, rolling subs, more goals – it's a great watch.' The Welshman, now 52, admits that small-sided formats have particular appeal for older players like himself. 'Yeah, I'm very excited. We're looking forward to it and I'm sure the fans are too. Obviously, for us older players, the smaller the pitch, the better!' he joked. Giggs compared the rise of compact football formats to trends seen in other sports. 'We're in an age now where people want things quickly. If you look at cricket with T20 and The Hundred, or tennis with shorter scoring formats, sports are adapting to faster lifestyles. Football's no different – smaller-sided games are faster, have more goals, and they keep fans engaged.' Giggs, joined by fellow former stars John Terry and Dimitar Berbatov during the tournament, also stressed how important fan interaction is during these events, especially in regions where watching European football comes with time zone challenges. 'Myself, John, and Dimitar, love coming abroad and meeting the fans. We did it as players on pre-season tours or international duty, and this is no different. 'It's also a thank you to all the fans. We know it's not easy in this part of the world – you're watching games at 2am, 3am. So to be here, sign autographs, take pictures, and play a bit is just our way of saying thanks.' Turning his attention to his beloved Manchester United, Giggs believes the Red Devils must improve in the attacking department to return to the top. 'United are traditionally an attacking team and I think that's where we've fallen short in recent years. 'We've relied heavily on Bruno Fernandes for goals. When we've been successful in the past, goals have come from everywhere in the team.' He sees recent signing Bryan Mbeumo – who arrives with Premier League pedigree – as a step in the right direction. 'Hopefully, Mbeumo adds more goals. He's got Premier League experience, so he should hit the ground running. Together with (Matheus) Cunha, it's exciting. But I still think we need four or five more signings to compete.'
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Business Standard
17 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
IPL ownership in The Hundred: ECB's new lifeline for county cricket
English county cricket is undergoing a major transformation as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) welcomes investment from Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners into The Hundred tournament. At a time when financial strain threatens the future of several traditional county clubs, this influx of funding offers a much-needed lifeline. With only a few counties reaping the majority of cricket revenue, the injection of capital from both IPL and American investors promises to level the playing field. The ECB's bold move to sell stakes in The Hundred is being seen as a turning point—one that could not only revive county cricket but make it sustainable and competitive once again. Investment uplift amid financial divide The current financial landscape of English county cricket reveals deep economic inequalities. While a few top-tier counties command significant revenue streams, many smaller clubs find themselves struggling to stay afloat. Counties without a Hundred team, including Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, depend heavily on ECB funding to survive each season. The ECB's move to open up The Hundred to private ownership aims to narrow this financial gap. The sale of equity in the eight Hundred franchises is expected to generate substantial revenue, with a portion of it allocated to all 18 first-class counties—regardless of whether they host a Hundred side or not. IPL and American investors reshape The Hundred Four franchises in The Hundred have secured backing from IPL owners. Oval Invincibles, Northern Superchargers, Manchester Originals and Southern Brave have attracted investments from management teams behind leading IPL clubs such as Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals. The remaining four franchises—Trent Rockets, London Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix and Welsh Fire—are now supported by American investors, bringing fresh capital and global sports business expertise to English cricket. According to those involved in the transition, this strategic mix of Indian and US investment is not only about financial sustainability but also knowledge-sharing and operations enhancement. Building facilities, fans and futures Warwickshire County Cricket Club CEO Stuart Cain has pointed out that this new funding can drive improvements beyond the Hundred-hosting counties. By investing in better stadiums, clubs can enhance the matchday experience, attract more spectators and increase revenue streams. Cain also cited his club's plan to develop an on-site hotel at Edgbaston as an example of how counties can use the money smartly to build long-term revenue-generation avenues. He added that counties disadvantaged by the Hundred's franchise locations now have the financial means to improve infrastructure and strengthen teams, especially for formats like red-ball cricket and the T20 Blast. Talent development and raising standards Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that the influx of investment will go beyond infrastructure upgrades and play a key role in player development. He urged counties to collaborate more closely and break away from traditional rivalries to ensure best practices are shared across the board. Former Indian wicketkeeper and Lancashire legend Farokh Engineer echoed this sentiment, recalling a time when county cricket regularly featured global stars. He expressed hope that the renewed financial backing will raise the standard of play and restore county cricket to its former prestige. Making the most of the windfall Stakeholders agree that how counties handle the new funding will define the long-term success of this initiative. The money alone won't fix structural issues unless it's invested strategically in facilities, player development, fan engagement and marketing. The IPL has provided a model of sustainable, high-quality cricket through smart management, and there's a strong belief that English counties can learn from this approach to evolve their own systems. As the fifth season of The Hundred approaches, the ECB's openness to global investment has set the stage for a new era in English cricket. It's a defining moment—one that could decide whether county cricket merely survives or is truly reborn.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Will IPL money via The Hundred route rescue financially struggling county cricket clubs?
MANCHESTER: Will the investment by IPL owners in The Hundred competition ease the financial struggles of the majority of 18 county clubs in England? It is a "make or break" question facing the struggling clubs in the county circuit right now. According to the recently-released Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report, the gap between the top clubs and the smaller ones is widening with the big three -- Surrey, Lancashire and Warwickshire -- generating 44 per cent of the total revenue of all 18 first-class counties in 2023. The smaller clubs like Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire are hugely reliant on the funding from the parent body -- the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The sale of equity in the eight franchises of The Hundred is expected to raise approximately 520 million pounds, a part of which would be shared with the county clubs. The ECB decided to sell stakes of the eight franchises ahead of The Hundred's fifth season that begins on August 5, day after the conclusion of the Test series between India and England. Four out of the eight teams have attracted investments from IPL franchise owners connected to Mumbai Indians (49 per cent of Oval Invincibles), Sunrisers Hyderabad (100 per cent of Northern Supercharges), Delhi Capitals (49 per cent of Southern Brave) and Lucknow Super Giants (70 per cent of Manchester Originals). The other four teams -- Welsh Fire, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Trent Rockets -- have drawn huge sums from American investors.
NDTV
a day ago
- Business
- NDTV
Will IPL money Via The Hundred Route Rescue Financially Struggling County Cricket Clubs?
Will the investment by IPL owners in The Hundred competition ease the financial struggles of the majority of 18 county clubs in England? It is a "make or break" question facing the struggling clubs in the county circuit right now. According to the recently-released Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report, the gap between the top clubs and the smaller ones is widening with the big three -- Surrey, Lancashire and Warwickshire -- generating 44 per cent of the total revenue of all 18 first-class counties in 2023. The smaller clubs like Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire are hugely reliant on the funding from the parent body -- the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The sale of equity in the eight franchises of The Hundred is expected to raise approximately 520 million pounds, a part of which would be shared with the county clubs. The ECB decided to sell stakes of the eight franchises ahead of The Hundred's fifth season that begins on August 5, day after the conclusion of the Test series between India and England. Four out of the eight teams have attracted investments from IPL franchise owners connected to Mumbai Indians (49 per cent of Oval Invincibles), Sunrisers Hyderabad (100 per cent of Northern Supercharges), Delhi Capitals (49 per cent of Southern Brave) and Lucknow Super Giants (70 per cent of Manchester Originals). The other four teams -- Welsh Fire, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Trent Rockets -- have drawn huge sums from American investors. The eight counties hosting The Hundred teams, including the hosts of Test matches in the summer, are sitting pretty but the majority of the remaining 12 face an existential threat. "The Hundred money allows the 18 first-class counties to look to the future rather than simply survive from one summer to the next," said former England captain Michael Vaughan in the report. "I would like to see counties being transparent with each other and sharing knowledge about what works for them. Sometimes petty rivalries prevent that from happening and divisions between the Test host counties and the others develop." In a separate interaction with PTI, Vaughan said the fresh investments into The Hundred would help England produce better cricketers. "There is an expectation that it's (Hundred investments) going to help County cricket. What it does do is help England produce better players because some of our players go to the IPL and mix with some of the legends of the game and coaches and they come back better players. "The IPL is not going to move and it's not going to get any smaller, so the game is going to accelerate," he said, referring to the money pumped in by the IPL teams. Stuart Cain, CEO of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, believes the fresh influx of cash in English cricket will help all 18 counties but in the long run they need to develop multiple revenue streams. "In its most simplest form, that money will help red-ball cricket and T20 cricket thrive in all the counties, not just the eight franchises where there are teams. "So, if you're a Worcestershire or Northamptonshire or Leicestershire where you don't have a Hundred team, but you have that money, you can build better stadiums, which will attract more fans, give them a better experience. So, they want to come back again," Cain told PTI. "It allows you then to create more money, which you can invest in the squad, which means that you can employ better red-ball players. If we can make it even more attractive through the investment from The Hundred money, then I think that the 18 counties will all benefit and the game in general will benefit." Cain said there is also plenty to learn on the operation front from the IPL biggies besides stressing on the important of creating different revenue streams for clubs that don't have teams in The Hundred. "What's great with The Hundred is four of the teams have got IPL investment and four have got predominantly American US investment. So there's a nice mix here. We can learn a lot from the IPL. "So, the investors are operating in those global franchise environments can help us build The Hundred competition. We've got a strong T20 tournament already in the Blast. So what we need to do is make sure that it stays really strong and healthy and that The Hundred stays different," Cain said. "Being straight, county cricket doesn't make money. So what we have to make sure is that through The Hundred money, the venues that aren't playing Hundred cricket can take the Hundred money and invest it in their stadiums." For example, Cain is building a new on-site hotel at Edgbaston for an additional revenue stream through the year. "All those things will then drive more money into the pockets of the county to then invest back into county cricket and to the Blast," said Cain. Because of the financial crunch, the quality of cricket in county circuit has been impacted. With more cash in hand, the clubs would be able to attract better players and improve the standard of red ball game, said former India stumper and Lancashire great Farokh Engineer. "It'll help the counties hugely. So, IPL have actually come to the rescue of certain dwindling counties. The county cricket's standard has fallen down. In my time, there was myself and Clive Lloyd playing for Lancashire. There was Gordon Greenidge, Barry Richards playing for Hampshire, Andy Roberts, Ian Botham and all these guys are playing. "The standard of county cricket was very high. Now, it has sadly gone down. But with Indian money coming in, let's hope county cricket standards will improve, because county cricket is the basic form. It was the best form of cricket in my time," said Engineer.
India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
Will IPL money via The Hundred rescue financially struggling county cricket clubs?
Will the investment by IPL owners in The Hundred competition ease the financial struggles of the majority of 18 county clubs in England? It is a "make or break" question facing the struggling clubs in the county circuit right to the recently-released Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report, the gap between the top clubs and the smaller ones is widening with the big three -- Surrey, Lancashire and Warwickshire -- generating 44 per cent of the total revenue of all 18 first-class counties in smaller clubs like Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire are hugely reliant on the funding from the parent body -- the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The sale of equity in the eight franchises of The Hundred is expected to raise approximately 520 million pounds, a part of which would be shared with the county Read: Asia Cup 2025 in limbo as India refuses to attend meet in Bangladesh: SourcesThe ECB decided to sell stakes of the eight franchises ahead of The Hundred's fifth season that begins on August 5, day after the conclusion of the Test series between India and out of the eight teams have attracted investments from IPL franchise owners connected to Mumbai Indians (49 per cent of Oval Invincibles), Sunrisers Hyderabad (100 per cent of Northern Supercharges), Delhi Capitals (49 per cent of Southern Brave) and Lucknow Super Giants (70 per cent of Manchester Originals).The other four teams -- Welsh Fire, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Trent Rockets -- have drawn huge sums from American eight counties hosting The Hundred teams, including the hosts of Test matches in the summer, are sitting pretty but the majority of the remaining 12 face an existential threat."The Hundred money allows the 18 first-class counties to look to the future rather than simply survive from one summer to the next," said former England captain Michael Vaughan in the report."I would like to see counties being transparent with each other and sharing knowledge about what works for them. Sometimes petty rivalries prevent that from happening and divisions between the Test host counties and the others develop."In a separate interaction with PTI, Vaughan said the fresh investments into The Hundred would help England produce better cricketers."There is an expectation that it's (Hundred investments) going to help County cricket. What it does do is help England produce better players because some of our players go to the IPL and mix with some of the legends of the game and coaches and they come back better players."The IPL is not going to move and it's not going to get any smaller, so the game is going to accelerate," he said, referring to the money pumped in by the IPL Cain, CEO of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, believes the fresh influx of cash in English cricket will help all 18 counties but in the long run they need to develop multiple revenue streams."In its simplest form, that money will help red-ball cricket and T20 cricket thrive in all the counties, not just the eight franchises where there are teams."So, if you're a Worcestershire or Northamptonshire or Leicestershire where you don't have a Hundred team, but you have that money, you can build better stadiums, which will attract more fans, give them a better experience. So, they want to come back again," Cain told PTI."It allows you then to create more money, which you can invest in the squad, which means that you can employ better red-ball players. If we can make it even more attractive through the investment from The Hundred money, then I think that the 18 counties will all benefit and the game in general will benefit."Cain said there is also plenty to learn on the operation front from the IPL biggies besides stressing on the importance of creating different revenue streams for clubs that don't have teams in The great with The Hundred is four of the teams have got IPL investment and four have got predominantly American US investment. So there's a nice mix here. We can learn a lot from the IPL."So, the investors operating in those global franchise environments can help us build The Hundred competition. We've got a strong T20 tournament already in the Blast. So what we need to do is make sure that it stays really strong and healthy and that The Hundred stays different," Cain said."Being straight, county cricket doesn't make money. So what we have to make sure is that through The Hundred money, the venues that aren't playing Hundred cricket can take the Hundred money and invest it in their stadiums."For example, Cain is building a new on-site hotel at Edgbaston for an additional revenue stream through the year."All those things will then drive more money into the pockets of the county to then invest back into county cricket and to the Blast," said of the financial crunch, the quality of cricket in the county circuit has been impacted. With more cash in hand, the clubs would be able to attract better players and improve the standard of red ball game, said former India stumper and Lancashire great Farokh help the counties hugely. So, IPL has actually come to the rescue of certain dwindling counties. The county cricket's standard has fallen down. In my time, there was myself and Clive Lloyd playing for Lancashire. There was Gordon Greenidge, Barry Richards playing for Hampshire, Andy Roberts, Ian Botham and all these guys are playing."The standard of county cricket was very high. Now, it has sadly gone down. But with Indian money coming in, let's hope county cricket standards will improve, because county cricket is the basic form. It was the best form of cricket in my time," said Engineer.- EndsTrending Reel
