Will the financial commitment IPL owners have made to the Hundred tournament ease the financial problems most of the 18 County Cricket Clubs in England are experiencing? The struggling clubs in the county circuit now have to deal with this major issue. As the newly released Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report points out, the difference between the leading County Cricket Clubs and the lesser ones is growing.
The top three County Cricket Clubs, Surrey, Lancashire, and Warwickshire, account for 44% of the total revenue generated by all 18 first-class counties in 2023. Heavily dependent on financial aid from the parent organization, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), smaller clubs such as Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Derbyshire.
The projected equity sale in the eight franchises of The Hundred is expected to bring in about 520 million pounds, part of which will be allocated among the County Cricket Clubs. Just a day after the conclusion of the Test series between India and England, the fifth season of the Hundred, scheduled to start on August 5, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to sell interests in the eight franchises.
Four of the eight teams, Sunrisers Hyderabad (with 100% of Northern Superchargers), Delhi Capitals (49% of Southern Brave), and Lucknow Super Giants (70% of Manchester Originals), have obtained funding from most following IPL franchise owners.
Welsh Fire, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, and Trent Rockets, the other four teams, have attracted major American investor funding. Although the majority of the other twelve counties are under great existential danger, the eight counties hosting The Hundred teams, including those also hosting Test matches throughout the summer, are in a good situation.
Though he stresses that over time they need to develop many sources of income, Warwickshire County Cricket Club CEO Stuart Cain is confident that the recent inflow of money into English cricket would help all 18 counties.
