Just three days after securing the T20 Blast title with The Blaze, Grace Ballinger is turning her attention to the 2026 season of The Hundred. Now representing the Manchester Super Giants, Ballinger reflects on a competition undergoing significant structural shifts.
This year’s tournament marks the inaugural season of full privatization. While the England and Wales Cricket Board previously managed the league, individual franchises now operate independently. This shift has resulted in dramatic rebranding efforts. A prime example is the former Northern Superchargers, which has transitioned into Sunrisers Leeds following a major investment from The Sun Group, swapping its traditional purple for a vibrant orange.
Beyond aesthetics, squad compositions have undergone a complete overhaul. Ballinger notes that despite her previous team’s success in 2025, not a single player was retained by the new ownership group for the current campaign. Ballinger herself has transitioned to the Manchester Super Giants, where she looks forward to playing under the leadership of head coach Matthew Mott and captain Meg Lanning.
Financially, the privatization has yielded clear benefits for athletes, with salaries seeing a significant increase. Ballinger points out that her own earnings for the tournament have climbed from £16,000 last year to £42,500. However, the rapid transition from the T20 Blast to The Hundred leaves minimal time for squads to build chemistry before competitive play begins. Ballinger suggests that teams capable of integrating quickly will likely hold an early advantage. Despite the uncertainty surrounding these changes, she remains optimistic about the tournament’s role in elevating women’s cricket in England.
