The Hundred: London to host knockout rounds and final as Trent Bridge handed tournament opener

The knockout playoff and final of this summer’s Hundred will be played in London, with Trent Bridge handed the tournament opener for the first time.

The third edition of the ECB’s flagship domestic competition will be played in a condensed window, free from any overlap with England internationals. The tournament will begin on August 1 - the day after the scheduled end of the Fifth men’s Ashes Test - and run until August 27, when Lord’s will host the final for the third year in a row.

Last season, the Eliminator playoff round, which follows the initial pool stage, was played at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl, leading to complaints over logistics for the winning teams, who then had to travel to the capital in time for the following day’s final. As a result, organisers have reverted to the format used in the Hundred’s first season in 2021, with the Eliminator to be played at Kia Oval.

The start of last year’s women’s tournament was delayed due to the Commonwealth Games, but this summer all matchdays will feature women’s and men’s games as double-headers.

They begin in Nottingham, where the Trent Rockets will host Southern Brave in a meeting of the past two men’s champions and a repeat of last year’s women’s Eliminator.

Oval Invincibles, whose women’s team have won the first two tournaments, start their campaign the following day with a derby against London Spirit at Lord’s.