ECB decides to ditch special Hundred-branded ball for The Hundred 2025

The England Cricket Board (ECB) has taken a huge decision to ditch the special Hundred-branded ball for the fifth season of the Hundred 2025. The white Kookaburra balls were blamed last year for the low scores during the competition after several negative comments came from the players. During the previous edition, the run-rate dropped to 1.37 runs per ball, which is lower than MLC, IPL, SA20, BBL, and other leagues.

Some of the specialist new-ball bowlers, Daniel Worrall and Tim Southee, and other players blamed the batch of balls used, which had the Hundred logo in the first four seasons. A large H, which the players felt required additional lacquer and gave them odd feelings. Moeen Ali reckoned that most teams were 30/5 on most occasions.

The Kookaburra balls were made for the identical specifications and had differences from the ones that are used in domestic and international cricket. The board also went through different studies on he balls’ behavior compared to the ones which were used in the white-ball cricket in England and Wales.

ECB to ditch special Hundred-branded deliveries for The Hundred 2025

The ball tracking data suggested a spike in the seam movement and the swing in the 2023 season of the Hundred in comparison to 2022. This was also connected to the nature of the surfaces, weather, and the unique format of the tournament. The board opted to go against the balls as the same batch of balls was used in the T20 Blast 2025 season.

The members also hope that the players will be satisfied after the switch, as the lower percentage of assistance will lead to a higher scoring rate. On the curtain-raiser at Lord’s between the London Spirits and Oval Invincibles, Rashid Khan, who picked up 3/11 on debut for the two-time defending champions, expressed. “It was a tough wicket to bat on.”

The home side was bundled out for just 80 runs in 94 balls, with Ashton Turner ending as the leading run-getter with 21 runs in 14 balls at a strike rate of 150. Alongside Rashid, Sam Curran bagged 3/18 in 19 balls. Oval chased the target with six wickets in hand and 31 balls to spare as Liam Dawson ended with figures of 2/9 in 20 balls.