The Manchester Originals are Manchester’s team in The Hundred, the ECB’s attempt to make cricket appeal to people who’d never normally watch cricket. The format is 100 balls per side, the whole thing wraps up in under three hours, and the presentation borrows more from Twenty20 and American sports than anything you’d recognise from a five-day Test match. Whether that’s a good thing depends on how traditional you are about your cricket.
Both the men’s and women’s teams play at Emirates Old Trafford, home of Lancashire Cricket. The ground holds about 26,000 for these events and the setup is completely different from a regular county match. There are DJs, light shows, street food stalls beyond the usual cricket catering, and a fan zone with bars and activities. The crowd skews younger and louder than a typical day at the cricket. Fancy dress is common. It’s more event than sport, and that’s the point.
The Originals have had some strong squads since The Hundred launched. The women’s team in particular has featured some of the best players in the world. The men’s side has pulled in international names alongside Lancashire’s own players. The standard of cricket is genuinely high – the format just compresses it into something more digestible.
Tickets are reasonably priced for what you get – significantly cheaper than a Premier League match, and kids’ tickets are usually available at a discount. The atmosphere is family-friendly without being sanitised. Old Trafford is easy to reach by tram – the Old Trafford stop on the Altrincham line is a short walk from the ground.
If you’ve never watched cricket and you’re curious, The Hundred is designed for you. If you’re a cricket purist, you might wince at the music between balls. Either way, it’s a decent summer evening out in Manchester with sport attached.
