The Hundred is neither the saviour nor the killer of English cricket, but 2023 was its best season and it might be on to something, says chief cricket writer Stephan Shemilt.
In its wisdom, the England and Wales Cricket Board put The Hundred on the back foot before it even started.
A season that started with murmurings about the future of the competition has been enjoyable and engaging. There have been more close finishes in the men's games. There remains a lack of international superstars, but when England's men are world champions in both white-ball formats, this country has enough depth to put on a franchise tournament of decent quality.
Besides, it is incredibly difficult for the schedule to look the same year after year. In 2024 there is a men's T20 World Cup in the Caribbean in June, meaning England's home Tests are shifted later. The following summer will be fitted around five Tests against India, who will not arrive until after the conclusion of the IPL at the end of May.
One major gripe from the county diehards is how little their teams play at home during August - sometimes as few as four games in the One-Day Cup - with another argument being everything the ECB wanted to achieve with The Hundred could have been done by giving some love and investment to the T20 Blast.
Perhaps, overall, the most persuasive argument for the continued existence of The Hundred is two-fold.
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