The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the introduction of a new trophy for the combined men's and women's teams in The Hundred. The trophy will be awarded to the team that performs the best across the men's and women's competitions, with a combined league table used to determine the overall winner.
The Hundred is a new short-form cricket competition that will feature eight teams, with the men's and women's competitions running concurrently. The tournament will feature 100-ball matches, with each team playing eight matches over the course of the competition.
The new trophy is set to be awarded for the first time at the inaugural edition of the tournament, which will take place in July. The ECB has stated that the trophy is a celebration of the growth and success of women's cricket in the UK, and a recognition of the importance of promoting equality and inclusion in the sport.
The introduction of the new trophy has been welcomed by fans and players alike, with many praising the ECB for its commitment to promoting women's cricket. The tournament is set to be a major boost for the sport, with the ECB expecting a large following and high levels of engagement.
The ECB has released a statement thanking fans for their support, and encouraging them to get behind the tournament. The statement read: 'We are excited to launch this new trophy, which will celebrate the combined efforts of the men's and women's teams in The Hundred. We believe that this trophy will be a major boost for the sport, and will help to promote equality and inclusion in cricket.'