Andrew Strauss Considers Investment in The Hundred Franchise

Former England captain and ECB managing director Andrew Strauss is exploring the possibility of investing in a franchise within The Hundred. His investment company, TTB Sport Capital, is currently consulting for potential bidders from India, the US, and the UK, with the option for TTB to place its own bid.

Strauss, who joined TTB Sport Capital last year to lead its cricket investments, serves as executive chairman and holds a share in the company, giving him a personal interest in the potential acquisition of one of the eight franchises. TTB Sport Capital's portfolio includes investments in the emerging sport of padel and Angel City, a National Women’s Soccer League team in Los Angeles co-owned by Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, and Billie Jean King. Strauss's deep connections and experience in English cricket make him a valuable asset for the company.

Strauss's cricket career includes 100 Test matches and 127 one-day internationals for England. He also served as director of cricket at the ECB, where he was instrumental in appointing the World Cup-winning team led by Trevor Bayliss and Eoin Morgan. Although Strauss did not specifically address The Hundred in his high-performance review of domestic cricket, he has been a vocal supporter of the competition, praising its role in advancing and democratising the sport.

The ECB plans to sell a 51% stake in each of The Hundred's franchises to counties, with the remaining 49% to be auctioned off to private investors starting in September. While the ECB chairman, Richard Thompson, has touted The Hundred as a billion-pound asset, insiders suggest that raising £400 million by selling the minority stake is a more attainable goal.

Interest from Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises like Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians has been noted, though some have expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed deal structure and valuations ranging from £40 million to £80 million. The ECB also aims to attract US investors, hoping for an even distribution between IPL and American ownership. Potential US investors include Manchester United's Glazer family and Wrexham's celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Additionally, the ECB is considering shifting the competition to a T20 format by 2029, although the branding of "The Hundred" would remain intact.