£500m private investment lifts The Hundred salaries: men up 45%, women doubled for 2026

Private investors bought stakes in The Hundred's eight franchises for over £500m, with funds spread across the professional and domestic game. For 2026, each men's side's salary pot rises 45% to £2.05m, while the women's fund doubles. ECB chair Richard Thompson said cricket pays a big price for four overlapping competitions but believes the financial gain justifies it.