Sussex's new chair, Ed Warner, has floated the idea of a T10 triangular tournament to give counties left out of Hundred hosting duties more competitive cricket during August, running alongside the One-Day Cup. The proposal comes as Sussex, whose players fall under the Southern Brave umbrella but who host none of that franchise's home fixtures, have had just four days of home cricket during this year's Hundred, which started on 21 July 2026 and finishes with the final at Lord's on 16 August 2026.
Warner argues that smaller counties are being squeezed out of the peak summer window and wants the England and Wales Cricket Board to consider fixtures that complement rather than compete with the Hundred.
The ECB has probably been far too protective of the Hundred to get the money in. But now they need to be a little more wide-ranging in their thinking about the cricket calendar.
I'll be lobbying to open up the cricketing calendar with events that don't compete directly with the Hundred, but are money-generating opportunities for us, and a chance for our players to play the game.
What would the new tournament look like?
Warner envisions a short, family-oriented T10 triangular event featuring counties such as Kent and Essex, staged as a travelling roadshow through venues including Canterbury and Chelmsford.
Why couldn't you have a T10 triangular competition with Kent and Essex, for example? Make it very kid-friendly, make it a day at the seaside, then go and play at Canterbury, then go and play in Chelmsford. Those are the sorts of things that I don't think competes with the Hundred, but does compete with other entertainments in the school holidays in our local area.
The pitch is designed to appeal to families during the school holidays rather than draw viewers away from the Hundred itself, positioning it as an add-on to the summer schedule rather than a rival product.
Which Sussex players are involved in this year's Hundred?
A handful of Sussex-contracted players do feature in this year's competition despite the county's limited hosting role. James Coles has been signed by London Spirit, while Jofra Archer has been retained by Southern Brave. Coles, whose £390,000 price tag made him the most expensive player in March's inaugural auction for the competition's new structure, is among several county products now playing for franchises elsewhere.
Separately, the ECB has finalised the ownership arrangements for the Hundred's teams, according to the ECB, part of a broader restructuring that has brought in more than £500m of private investment, new team identities, bigger budgets and revamped coaching setups for the 2026 edition, as covered in our earlier report on the changes reshaping this year's Hundred.
Why are Sussex under financial scrutiny?
Warner's proposal follows the publication of a governance review into Sussex, who were sanctioned by the ECB earlier this year for breaching financial sustainability rules. The county had 12 points deducted from this season's County Championship in a deal with the governing body, and further deductions loom unless last year's £1.3m loss is cut to £1m by October 2026, with the club required to break even within a further 12 months. That points penalty was confirmed as part of an agreement with the ECB to address the club's financial issues, according to a sports broadcaster's report.
The external review, carried out by consultancy Campbell Tickell, attributed the club's difficulties to weak management and a shortage of commercial and governance expertise, rather than solely to the structural imbalance in English cricket's finances. Warner, who previously chaired UK Athletics, took charge last month and has already begun cutting costs and trimming the playing budget, with the club reportedly on track to hit the ECB's initial financial target.
Are we a victim of the structure of English cricket? Yes, but we can't afford to go around feeling like victims. We have to work out smart ways to spend the money that we've got to be competitive, and to be in a position to beat counties that have got Test grounds and Hundred franchises.
We're not going to change the face of English cricket ourselves overnight. What we have to do is make this place financially secure, commercially successful and from a cricketing perspective, as exciting as we can.
Sussex's broader plans for 2026 reportedly extend beyond the T10 idea, including a reduced County Championship schedule, fewer group games in the T20 Blast, an earlier full-strength 50-over competition and a place in the Hundred's second tier, according to a specialist cricket outlet. The county's push also comes amid renewed interest in the One-Day Cup, which our earlier feature on the competition's appeal found offers familiar faces, cheap tickets and a relaxed atmosphere, with strong early performances from counties including Lancashire, Notts, Somerset, Middlesex, Durham and Worcestershire.
Is there precedent for adding new short-format tournaments?
English cricket has weighed similar ideas before. The ECB previously approved plans for a separate eight-team Twenty20 competition, according to an earlier BBC report, suggesting the governing body has shown willingness in the past to expand the short-format calendar alongside existing county competitions.
What else is happening in Sussex cricket this summer?
Away from the professional game, the Sussex Cricket Foundation is running a Disability Hundred event at Arundel Castle Cricket Club between 6 and 9 August 2026, part of a wider festival of cricket sponsored by Rathbones, according to Sussex Cricket. The event underlines the county's efforts to widen participation even as its senior side navigates financial constraints.
What happens next?
The 2026 Hundred continues towards its scheduled conclusion at Lord's on 16 August 2026, with fixtures and results being tracked by national broadcasters throughout the tournament. Sussex's financial recovery plan remains under close watch, with the club needing to reduce its losses to £1m by October 2026 and break even the following year to avoid further points deductions in the County Championship.
Key Facts
- Sussex had only four home days of Hundred cricket in 2026, despite falling under the Southern Brave franchise.
- The 2026 Hundred began on 21 July and concludes with the final at Lord's on 16 August.
- James Coles was sold for £390,000 at March's auction, the highest fee of the sale.
- Sussex started the 2026 County Championship season with a 12-point deduction under an ECB agreement.
- The club must cut last year's £1.3m loss to £1m by October 2026 and break even 12 months later.
- Sussex Cricket Foundation is hosting a Disability Hundred at Arundel Castle from 6-9 August 2026.
