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Durham chief executive Tim Bostock says the club are \u201c100 per cent committed\u201d to bringing a Hundred team to the north east and would be ready to take part in an expanded tournament as soon as 2025.<\/p>\n
Consultations over the future direction of the competition, which has divided opinion since its launch three years ago, are ongoing and a decision on proposals for new, external investment is expected in the coming months.<\/p>\n
The likeliest outcome would see the sale of stakes in the eight existing sides and there is also support for expanding the field to 10 teams.<\/p>\n
Durham are currently affiliated to the Yorkshire-based Northern Superchargers but, with around 90 miles between Chester-le-Street and Headingley, they are eager to branch out on their own.<\/p>\n
Bostock is an unabashed supporter of the tournament and is busily preparing a pitch to join the fray at the earliest opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are 100 per cent committed to bringing a franchise here to the north east,\u201d he told the PA news agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe pitched for it originally and I think we were close. We don\u2019t have a divine right, that would be complacent, but we are very confident we would be able to mobilise very quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe north of the country cannot be ignored and we have an international ground ready to go; the facilities and infrastructure are in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to make the business case, put our best foot forward and make sure the ECB can\u2019t turn us down.<\/p>\n
This is the silver bullet, game-changer for the game. Despite all the criticism, I\u2019m yet to see another product three years on from start up that is thought to be worth \u00a3750m. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we need to get too hung up on when you move to 10 teams, that could be 2027\/28, why not go to nine first? If I go to the ECB in six months\u2019 time and say, \u2018we have a very powerful backer, we\u2019re ready to go\u2019 there\u2019s no reason the ECB won\u2019t make us the ninth team. Let\u2019s assume we have an investor, we are ready to go in 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are sports mad in the north east and we sell out every international we get, which is one of things they look at when awarding teams. I have no doubt if we got one as part of any expansion it would be brilliantly supported. We\u2019ve got a following wind behind us, to say the least.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are county cricket fans who remain stridently opposed to the entire concept of the Hundred but Bostock insists its commercial potential is unparalleled in the domestic game. The Bridgepoint private equity group offered the ECB a reported \u00a3400million for a 75 per cent share of the competition in 2022 and overseas interest would be high if individual teams went on the market.<\/p>\n
Bostock believes his region is well placed to cash in and argues that a fresh influx of cash would be a lifeline that would prop up the rest of the national framework.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s probably no bigger strategic decision to be made than this one. You\u2019re not going to please everybody but you\u2019ve got to get it right,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the silver bullet, game-changer for the game. Despite all the criticism, I\u2019m yet to see another product three years on from start up that is thought to be worth \u00a3750m.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat money will sustain 18 counties, accelerate the growth of the women\u2019s game and support recreational cricket. The economic reality is that without the advent of the Hundred and the huge investment it\u2019s going to bring, it\u2019s unlikely we\u2019d still have 18 counties in five years\u2019 time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to make sure the Hundred is monetised to become recognised as the second best short-form competition in the world, after the IPL. To do that, you\u2019ve got to pay the money that attracts the best players and for that we need investment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a destination, the north east is well placed. We\u2019ve seen the Saudis have bought Newcastle United just down the road and you don\u2019t need to be a brain surgeon to see they are building a portfolio.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very confident we could attract a lot interest.\u201d<\/p>\n