THE HUNDRED wants to change “wickets” to “outs” as the controversial new tournament goes all American.
Cricket chiefs believe baseball-style terminology will help attract a new audience and make the game more accessible to people with no previous interest.
With ten balls before each switch of end, tournament organisers have already said the term “overs” will be virtually redundant.
So instead of a team having scored, say, 50 runs for two wickets from six overs, they will be 50 for two outs off 36 balls. The scoreboard at grounds is expected to show 100 balls counting down to zero.
Male batsmen will be referred to as gender-neutral “batters” – a phrase already used in women’s cricket.
An ECB spokesperson said: “Describing a batter being dismissed as an ‘out’ – rather than a ‘wicket’ – is one of a number of ideas under discussion.”
Other possibilities include re-naming some of the fielding positions such as “third man.”
TV and radio broadcasters will be encouraged to use the new words.
The immediate reaction on social media was predictably negative but Hundred organisers believe they need to try to simplify certain facets of cricket.
Michael Vaughan tweeted: “So it’s going to be ‘Outs’ rather than ‘wickets’ for the Hundred tournament! What do we all think? Too much change or pretty cool?”
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The Hundred is going to have “outs” instead of “wickets “ to make it more accessible……..
, really…..just NO….
— j scott (@jscott177) April 12, 2021
I’m looking forward to The Hundred.
I’m not OK with ‘outs’.
I feel better for sharing that.
— Sarah Dickson
(@SLDickson) April 12, 2021
Ex-Aussie international Brad Hogg said: “The Hundred changing ‘wickets’ to ‘outs’ for dismissals is a little too much. Cricket is not baseball. It’s enough the changes in formats to tamper with the terminology.”
The big danger is turning off existing fans.
The tournament due to start in late July and Sky, who will broadcast every men’s and women’s match, announced their commentary team including Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad and Kevin Pietersen, along with their regulars.
