London Spirit's captain expresses hope that financial backing for The Hundred might help in bridging the current salary disparity
The sale of stakes in eight franchises of the innovative cricket competition, The Hundred, has valued them at over £975 million, according to recent reports. This significant investment, amounting to around £500 million, is set to benefit The Hundred, providing a major boost following the sale of stakes to overseas buyers.
The sale, which has seen six out of eight franchises change hands, has provided the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with £520 million to reinvest in cricket across England and Wales.
Salary Increases and the Pay Gap
In the wake of this investment, salaries for both men and women in The Hundred have seen an increase. Players in the women's top bracket of this year's edition are set to earn £65,000, a 30% increase on last year, for a month of cricket. In comparison, the best-paid men in the franchise competition will get £200,000 each - 60% more than in 2024.
Despite these increases, the pay gap between the top men and women players remains substantial. Women earn about 32.5% of what men earn in the top bracket, reflecting a significant disparity.
London Spirit captain Charlie Dean, an England all-rounder, expressed hope that more investment into The Hundred can close the pay gap between the men's and women's competitions. Dean stated, "One of The Hundred's biggest taglines is about equality and equal opportunity."
Moving Forward
Dean also expressed optimism about the potential of this new investment to help reduce the pay disparity. "Hopefully with this new investment we keep moving forward in a way to stop pay disparity moving further away from each other," Dean said.
Deals for the Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets, the remaining two franchises, are expected to formally complete at a later date.
In summary, while the recent investment has boosted pay for both men and women, the increase has actually widened the pay gap in absolute terms since the men's increase is double the percentage gain of the women's. However, efforts are underway to continue narrowing the gap, with the ECB and players like Dean expressing hope that ongoing and future investments will help reduce this disparity over time.
| Category | Top Women's Salary | Top Men's Salary | Percentage Increase (Women) | Percentage Increase (Men) | Pay Gap Ratio (Women/Men) | |-------------------|--------------------|------------------|-----------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------| | 2025 Salaries | £65,000 | £200,000 | 30% | 60% | 32.5% |
This reflects the current situation post-investment, with efforts underway to continue narrowing the gap.
Sports investors have provided a significant boost to The Hundred, leading to increased salaries for both men and women players in the competition. Despite a 30% increase for women, the pay gap remains substantial, with women earning approximately 32.5% of what men earn in the top bracket. London Spirit captain Charlie Dean hopes that continued investment into The Hundred can help close this pay gap, stating, "Hopefully with this new investment we keep moving forward in a way to stop pay disparity moving further away from each other."
