The Hundred 2025: Plans to switch to auction for 2026 may not work, says Georgia Adams

Adams said she has turned down more money in previous seasons to remain at Brave, who she has played for since 2022.

This year teams could retain up to 10 players, with the the remaining slots filled at certain price brackets at the draft.

“Having played in the Big Bash [Australia’s domestic T20 competition], there’s such strong affiliation to their side and a lot of passion behind the teams that they’re playing for and I do think that helps the competition thrive,” Adams said.

Decisions on the future of competition will be made by a newly formed Hundred board, which will feature representatives from the England and Wales Cricket Board and one from each of the eight franchises.

New team names and kits are expected for 2026 as the investors, who collectively have spent more than £500m in securing their stakes in teams, make changes.

The ECB are keen for any changes to benefit both the men’s and women’s competitions, though there could be slight differences between the structure of an auction for each.

In the men’s tournament, Oval Invincibles will chase a third straight title in Sunday’s final, having benefited from keeping together a core group of players across the five seasons.

In contrast, Welsh Fire’s women have finished bottom in three out of five seasons while their men have never reached the latter stages.

Invincibles captain Sam Billings played down concerns such upheaval will lead to a loss of identity and said an auction will help keep the competition competitive.

“I would happily stay at The Oval and try and win a title every year but there is an argument that change does bring positive change and makes it more competitive,” Billings said.

“If it was constant turnover every year, I don’t like the idea of that.

“What the IPL does well is after various cycles you get change, you still keep the icon players. For example, Sam Curran will be retained regardless at The Oval.

“Not only because he is one of our best players but he is the Oval poster boy. From a marketing point of view it would be a no brainer.

“You still keep that core group of players, admittedly not 10 players but four players.

“It definitely does give opportunity to other teams, that haven’t had the success. It gives them a blank canvas to say we can build a team to win a title in the next three years.”