Equal prize money for men and women in The Hundred

 The winners of men’s and women’s side in ‘The Hundred’ will receive equal prize money, it came to light on Wednesday (March 4). The prize budget of 600,000 Euros will be split equally.

“It is brilliant news,” Heather Knight, who will lead London Spirit, told BBC Sport. “To have equal prize money is a statement by the ECB to put women's cricket alongside men's cricket. We have a long way to go to make women's cricket as equal as it can be - but the signs are brilliant.”

Though the prize money is equal, the contracts are not so. The highest salary bracket for women is 15,000 euros while that for men is 125,000 euros.

“It is about being realistic as well,” said Knight. “The women's game has not been professional for that long. We have seen how the men's game has built, and the women's game will hopefully follow suit.”

“It will be a real boost for those players that will continue playing for a little longer and won't have to worry about other jobs and paying the bills. I am sure there will be that extra push from them to get their hands on the big prize.”

Beth Barrett-Wild, head of women’s Hundred felt that this move is a step in the right direction.

“It's recognition for the women's players and the huge value they bring to The Hundred,” she said.

“The England and Wales Cricket Board is committed to transforming women's and girls' cricket, from inspiring young girls to pick up a bat for the first time, through to establishing the women's game as a professional career option.”

Nine of the women’s fixtures will be played as double-headers ahead of the men’s games on the same day. The women’s Hundred will commence with Birmingham Phoenix’s clash against Manchester Originals on July 22 with the final at Hove in August 14.