England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has called for growth in The Hundred women’s competition to continue, and is keen that momentum is not lost with the arrival of private investment in the tournament.
From next summer, The Hundred will have private ownership across the eight franchises, including a 49% stake in Sciver-Brunt’s Trent Rockets purchased by Chelsea Football Club owner Todd Boehly.
That was one of four US-based investment groups, with the other four franchises bought, either in whole or in part, by owners of Indian Premier League teams.
However, only one of them – Mumbai Indians’ owners, the Ambani family, who have agreed to buy a 49% stake in Oval Invincibles – has a side in the Women’s Premier League in India.
“In the first five years we’ve done a lot of things right and the main part from the women’s side is to feel like you’re in equal measure, in equal opportunity, in equal everything really to the men’s side,” said Sciver-Brunt, speaking exclusively to BBC Sport.
“It’s the sense of belonging that that gives you as a women’s side, it’s transformed the way we do things and the cricket as well. So, hopefully we don’t lose that too much.”
