NICK HOWSON: Pockets of poor conduct was one of the themes of the inaugural edition of the 100-ball competition, sold as an inclusive, family-friendly event. But measures will be taken to ensure the atmosphere is more welcoming in 2022
The Hundred organisers have ruled out a complete alcohol ban across the competition but are introducing booze-free areas at all venues to limit incidents of drunken anti-social behaviour that impacted last year's family-focused competition.
Family-only areas have also been added to all of the eight grounds used to host the 60 tournament matches. Stewarding will be stepped up and cameras used to monitor fan conduct.
Episodes of disorder were dotted around the tournament including at Lord's, forcing the MCC to close bars early during matches. Similar incidents, including pitch invasions and fighting among fans at Headingley - home of Northern Superchargers - were reported during the T20 Blast.
ECB officials are focused on the "right audience" attending matches. Of the 475,000 tickets sold, with just days to go until the men's tournament kicks off the second edition on August 3, 30 per cent of buyers are female which could lead to between 35 and 40 per cent of crowds being women. Twenty-two per cent are Under-16s, another increase on 2021.
"There were isolated incidents last year, we're aware of that," said Sanjay Patel, The Hundred's managing director. "If you look at our demographics and our family audience that is something that we have to get right this year.
"We're working with the venues every day to make sure they are ready for these things. So far what we've seen with the Blast and international cricket is a couple of isolated incidents but we feel crowd behaviour is calming down but we're going to monitor that throughout The Hundred.
Alcohol-free matches are not yet in the plans (LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
"It is an important element not just for The Hundred but all our cricket. We cannot have any anti-social behaviour in any of our cricket.
"We were aware last year, and through the whole of society, that there was a lot of anti-social behaviour that is going on and we don't want that in our grounds.
"What we want to see is the right audience turning up - a family audience - and make sure there is no anti-social behaviour in the ground.
"If we can get to that if someone wants to come and have a couple of drinks and as long as they do it in a respectful manner and as long as they're respective to everyone around them and there to enjoy the day I don't see a problem with alcohol at cricket grounds."
While Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana represent the Indian contingent playing in the women's Hundred, there is no movement on trying to get men involved.
The BCCI seldom permit their male players from featuring in overseas franchise competitions. While there are reports that the stance might be about to ease, Patel doesn't believe an immediate change is forthcoming.
He stated: "Of course, we would love Indian players, why wouldn't we? It would help the playing standard and help us enormously.
"But I can't see that happening in the near future. But we will continue to try and find a way to get some Indian players in. I will say we have some Indian players playing in the women's competition.
"There are going to be things that we get right and wrong and as long as we're honest enough to accept those things we have to put other things in place to make sure the tournament consistently gets better"
"It is an ongoing conversation. We've been having this conversation for two years with the BCCI. I am not holding my breath. But we should continue to have the conversation. I don't think it going to happen in the near future.
"I think the BCCI would need to look at The Hundred and look at the potential of developing their players in that competition before there was any chance of getting any Indian players in The Hundred."
For a competition unveiled with much fanfare and billed as a game-changer for the English game, Patel was coy on fresh innovations and plans for the future. Everything from playing regulations to the presentation of DJs and live artists during breaks will remain similar to 2021.
Questions regarding an expansion - Bristol and Durham have been linked with being added to make it a 10-team showcase - overseas investment and ring-fenced places for associate players were all batted away, too.
Included as part of the new broadcast deal running until 2028, there is no doubt The Hundred is here to stay. But Patel is in the dark over the conclusions Andrew Strauss' high-performance review will draw over its role.
England's centrally contracted players will be available for the first three group matches before the South Africa Tests but there is no guarantee over their availability for the final on September 3, which sits on the weekend between the second and third Tests.
Sanjay Patel, managing director of The Hundred (Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Sport Industry Group)
Those red-ball contracted players are separate from the full squads and are drawn from the list of deals awarded last October. Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes are injured, Ben Stokes has ruled himself out while Rory Burns has returned to captain Surrey in the One-Day Cup.
London Spirit will lose Zak Crawley, Joe Root will leave Trent Rockets and Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow are expected to miss a chunk of Welsh Fire's campaign. But Manchester Originals will get a full season out of Jos Buttler, Sam Curran is likely to spend the duration of the campaign with Oval Invincibles and the Rockets have Dawid Malan. Ollie Robinson could be in and out at Northern Superchargers.
In short, it is an area that requires a degree of attention.
"It starts with how your centrally contract your players and availability," said Patel.
"That is something that is revised every year and will be reviewed in September.
"We need to learn as we go, we've had one year, and that is all we have done.
"There are going to be things that we get right and wrong and as long as we're honest enough to accept those things we have to put other things in place to make sure the tournament consistently gets better."
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.