​The sixth edition of The Hundred starts on Tuesday, 21 July as the tournament returns with some different team names and new kits, players and coaches.Since last year’s competition, stakes in the eight sides have been sold to investors, raising more than £500m to be shared between cricket’s 18 counties and at least £50m of investment in grassroots participation.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere is everything you need to know about the 2026 edition, including the schedule and how to watch and follow on the BBC.Full Hundred 2026 squadsWho owns the teams competing in The Hundred?The Hundred is a white-ball cricket tournament designed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to attract more investment and diverse audiences to the game.It was due to launch in 2020 but delayed by a year following the Covid-19 pandemic.There are eight teams in the competition, with each representing cities of the UK, rather than the traditional county structure.Prior to the investment the eight teams were called: Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThree have changed name with Manchester Originals becoming Manchester Super Giants, Northern Superchargers changing to Sunrisers Leeds and Oval Invincibles now MI London. All three of those sides have investment from groups linked to India’s IPL and their names have changed in line with those teams.For the first time in UK sporting history, a draft was used to build the 16 squads after an initial direct-signing window.The men’s and women’s tournaments run simultaneously and each match sees both team bat for 100 balls, with the highest score winning.Each bowler can bowl a maximum of 20 balls each, and in five or 10-ball sets.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA powerplay – a section of the innings where the fielding side are only allowed two fielders on the boundary – lasts 25 balls per innings.Matches are designed to last for two-and-a-half hours in total, making it the fastest format of the game played in the UK and more attractive to TV broadcasters.As well as a men’s and women’s table, there will be a new combined table and trophy from the 2026 season.Find out how to get into cricket and a glossary of termsThe 2026 tournament starts on Tuesday, 21 July with MI London – who are the most successful side in both competitions with three men’s titles and two women’s trophies – against Sunrisers Leeds.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn the group stages, which run until 12 August, every side plays eight matches. They play six teams once but their local rival twice.The local pairings are Phoenix and Rockets, Spirit and MI London, Super Giants and Sunrisers, as well as Brave and Fire.The top side after the group stages qualifies automatically for the final at Lord’s.The second and third-placed teams meet at The Kia Oval in the Eliminator on 14 August, with the