Trent Bridge to host trials of 100-ball cricket as ECB aim to knock the Hundred format into shape

The new Hundred tournament will be ‘road-tested’ with six days of trial matches next month.

Trent Bridge will host men’s pilot games on September 16, 17 and 18, and Loughborough will stage three days of women’s fixtures on September 14, 15 and 27, as research for the 100-ball format.

There will be a chance for cricketers to experiment with the playing conditions before providing feedback to the ECB on whether the format is workable.

Players have been told of the matches and availability is being co-ordinated via the counties and the ECB, though many counties have fixtures on the trial dates.

The Professional Cricketers’ Association hope most counties will have someone involved in the trials.

Meanwhile, England Test skipper Joe Root and team-mate Jos Buttler have will play for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash this winter - as revealed by Standard Sport in July.