For the first time ever in the southern hemisphere, inspired by The Hundred in the UK but featuring several new innovations to suit the festival format, The Century is a concept that will see senior players compete for the 2022 title under different rules.

Stepping away from the traditional T20 format has allowed the BPL to evolve and grow the great Australian game once again.

“Since its launch, the BPL has always sought to identify opportunities to extend the playing experience of our cricketers. To be able to build off the fantastic inaugural BPL season that introduced everyone to the excitement of a private franchise cricket competition with our own take on the 100-ball format is a wonderful next step in the evolution of the BPL. I cannot wait to see what our league partners, franchise owners, players, coaches and support staff deliver with The Century,” said Chair of the BPL Stuart Giles.

The Century games will see 100 balls per innings with each bowler delivering a maximum of 20 balls per match. 20 balls will be bowled from each end with at least 10 consecutive balls delivered by the same bowler. Further excitement and pressure will be added with a free hit available to the batter following a wide delivery. When fielding, only two players from each team will be allowed outside of the initial 30-yard circle for the first 20-ball powerplay, and matches will run for two and a half hours.

In the lead up to the competition weekend in August, the eight privately owned franchises will attend an auction to bid on new players for their teams; an auction which is open to all players across the country.

“Having coached in The Hundred format of the game and as a member of the Bayside Pirates ownership team, I am excited by The Century format in the second edition of the BPL for the seniors. I see this as another option for players to grow and expand their game, take it to the next level and showcase their team and individual ability. The Century is a faster game and one with some interesting tactical challenges for captains and players, particularly with the further changes and innovations the BPL is bringing to the table. I am looking forward to seeing how the players adapt and teams perform later on in the year,” said Darren Lehmann.

For most, The Century will be the first time they’ve ever played it and presents another amazing
opportunity for them to learn a new format, one that is sure to have a big future in the world of cricket.

“As a franchise owner of the Northern Kings and a player who played in last year’s inaugural Hundred in England, I’m very excited about the launch of The Century. 100-ball cricket is an outstanding format: fast, entertaining, and conducive to lots of runs which I love. It’s fantastic that players will now have the chance to play the format here in Brisbane.

The BPL is all about giving players opportunities to play formats that they love and we saw this last year with the juniors getting the chance to play T20 cricket. This is why the BPL is so dynamic and innovative: 

“they’ve got the ability to pivot and move with speed, ultimately helping grow the game with plenty of smiles,” said Chris Lynn.