Equal prize money for men and women in England's Hundred

English cricket's new Hundred competition will feature equal prize money for men's and women's competitions, tournament organizers England and Wales Cricket Board anunced on Wednesday. ECB said total prize budget of ?600,000 ($769,000, 689,000 euros) would be split fifty-fifty between women's and men's competitions as part of governing body's "commitment to making cricket a -balanced sport". Hundred is a new tournament consisting of eight city-based franchise sides, breaking away from England's traditional county system.

'Equal prize money for men and women'

Teams will bat for 100 balls each, with overs lasting for 10 balls and bowlers eir bowling five or 10 balls consecutively. All eight franchises will feature both men's and women's teams, with two competitions running side by side.

"This is a great anuncement for women's sport," said England captain Hear Knight, who will skipper London Spirit in Hundred.

"Women's professional cricket is on an exciting journey and whilst re is still a way to go to realise -parity, this move from Hundred is a significant step in right direction," added Knight, who has led England to semi-finals of ongoing women's Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

"We're all really excited about playing in new competition and hopefully inspiring more young girls and boys to pick up a bat and ball."

Beth Barrett-Wild, head of Hundred's women's competition, said: " ECB is committed to transforming women's and girls' cricket, from inspiring young girls to pick up a bat for first time, through to establishing women's game as a professional career option. "This anuncement today represents one signal of intent towards that commitment," she added. ECB are adamant Hundred will attract a new audience vital to safeguarding cricket's long-term future. But critics have questioned need for a fourth format in an already crowded men's schedule featuring first-class, one-day and Twenty20 matches, while concerns have been voiced over Hundred's potentially damaging kck-on effects to existing 18-team county set-up. This year's inaugural edition of Hundred will take place from July 17 to August 15.