The Women's Hundred ventures into uncharted territory; Perrin's epoch should not be the final memorable milestone.

The Hundred cricket competition, which has been a game-changer for the sport in England, is facing uncertain times following its sale to new investors.

The sale has raised concerns among players, particularly the women, who fear they might be sidelined or undervalued in the new setup. This uncertainty stems from the underlying issue that women's players have consistently been short-changed despite the equal platform provided by The Hundred.

One of the most promising young talents in The Hundred, Davina Perrin, became the youngest player ever signed in the competition. Her playing style was inspired by watching YouTube videos of cricket legends Viv Richards and Brian Lara. Perrin made headlines recently by scoring the fastest century on record by an English woman in a cricket match, with her parents present to celebrate the momentous occasion.

The double-header model of The Hundred, where women's and men's matches are played consecutively, has been a significant boost for the competition as a whole and the women's game in England. This model has propelled Alice Capsey, initially a poster-girl for The Hundred, to become an England regular. Issy Wong, another standout player, made waves with her WPL hat-trick, solidifying her position as one of the most marketable English cricketers in the world.

The ECB chief executive, Richard Gould, has expressed his ambition for at least a partial decoupling of the competitions, aiming to maximise ticket sales. By splitting the competition up, potential double ticket sale revenue could be gained, and the women's competition could have space to shine in its own light.

However, the new investors could potentially rebrand the competition and focus more on men's teams. This prospect has sparked anxiety among players, as they worry about their future roles in the competition.

Despite these concerns, Beth Barrett-Wild, director of the women's professional game in England, has expressed confidence about the positioning of the women's competition in the new setup. Various legal documents have been put in place to protect certain aspects of the women's competition, offering some reassurance to the players.

Four of the investors who own IPL teams and are also involved in The Hundred are JSW Group, Capri Global Capital, Sanjiv Goenka Group, and Shahrukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment. Two of these investors successfully bid for WPL franchises in 2023. However, Capri International, who own UP Warriorz in the WPL, were outbid for Welsh Fire by MLC Washington Freedom owner Sanjay Govil.

The Hundred has driven growth in every measure across the women's game over the last five years. Despite this, the competition has now been sold to new investors, raising questions about its future direction and the future of the women's game in England. With radical change afoot, those nerves of what comes next are understandable.

The Women's Hundred ventures into uncharted territory; Perrin's epoch should not be the final memorable milestone.