The wait is finally over as cricket team Manchester Originals will make their highly anticipated return to The Hundred for the 2023 season this August at Emirates Old Trafford. Now in its third year, The Hundred has established itself as an unmissable summer experience for fans and families across the North West seeking a fun-filled day out.
The Hundred is a sports competition that fuses entertainment with a new short, fast format of cricket, with each game lasting less than three hours. The Hundred aims to make cricket more accessible to reach a broader audience and it’s pretty simple: 100 balls per team, most runs wins, so every ball counts.
The Hundred features eight new teams from seven cities, with men’s and women’s competitions taking place side by side: Welsh Fire (Cardiff), Southern Brave (Southampton), Northern Superchargers (Leeds), London Spirit, Trent Rockets (Nottingham), Oval Invincibles (London), Manchester Originals and Birmingham Phoenix. Each team will feature some of the best international and domestic cricketers from around the world, including England Men’s & Women’s World Cup winners.
The first home match at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday 5 August will be a high-stakes contest versus London Spirit, which will be followed by a series of thrilling home fixtures – as follows:
- Monday 7 August – Manchester Originals vs Birmingham Phoenix – with special guest Antony Szmierek (women’s start 3pm, men’s start 6:30pm)
- Sunday 20 August – Manchester Originals vs Northern Superchargers – with special guest Nxdia (women’s start 11am, men’s start 2:30pm)
- Wednesday 23 August – Manchester Originals vs Southern Brave – with special guests Lottery Winners (women’s start 3pm, men’s start 6:30pm)
Returning for the new season, world number one bowler Sophie Ecclestone will be captaining the Manchester Originals women’s side for the first time, deputised by fellow England international all-rounder, Emma Lamb. Returning for his third year of captaincy of the Manchester Originals men’s team will be England wicket keeper Jos Buttler, who helped lead the team to the final last year, alongside North West locals Richard Gleeson and Tom Hartley, and emphatic batter Phil Salt.
Elevating the atmosphere off the pitch, the games will feature a stellar line-up of music acts in partnership with BBC Music Introducing. Headlining at the final home fixture will be Manchester’s very own chart-topping indie-pop band Lottery Winners, renowned for their energetic live shows.
Joining them is a talented line-up of emerging Northern artists including Akemi Fox, hailed as one of the North’s most soothing alternative R&B artists, Arabic/English fusion pop artist Nxdia, and spoken word and indie hip-hop artist, Antony Szmierek. Keeping the energy levels high throughout the home fixtures will be the charismatic DJ Roesh and host Harpz Kaur.
Find more information about The Hundred and tickets here.