RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesPhil Salt struck 48 from 37 balls in a 125-run opening partnership with Matt Short for Welsh Fire against Manchester Super Giants [Getty Images]
Welsh Fire captain Phil Salt would ideally like The Hundred to be a week longer after his side played three matches in five days.
His second-placed side won at Birmingham Phoenix on Saturday afternoon and defeated Southern Brave in Cardiff on Monday evening, before losing to Manchester Super Giants on Wednesday afternoon.
"It's been a little bit hectic the last few days," Salt told BBC Sport.
"Birmingham, back to Cardiff, up here. It's a lot to be honest with you in five days and managing bodies through.
"From a player's point of view I'd like this competition to be probably a week longer."
The Hundred group stage takes place over 23 days with teams playing eight games in that period.
In comparison, Indian Premier League sides each play 14 group games in a 56-day period, while in last season's men's Big Bash League in Australia teams played 10 group games each in a 36-day window.
Since its introduction in 2021, The Hundred has further complicated a packed English summer schedule, with the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) continuing to raise concerns about the impact on player welfare.
In their response to the 2026 schedule, which saw the T20 Blast reduced by two matches, PCA chief executive Daryl Mitchell said the unchanged County Championship season "does raise concerns with player burnout with mental and physical dangers attached to an overly intense end to the season following the conclusion of The Hundred".
Salt acknowledged the difficulties of finding more time in the schedule, while noting the impact the current scheduling had on his squad.
"We import the best stars in the game for this. We've got on our side [the 6ft 8in tall] Marco Jansen and Lockie Ferguson," he added.
"They've done a lot of time on the bus in the last three days! A bus that's not built for lads that size.
"I'd like a bit more time in between to be honest with you, but I understand we're working with a pretty tight schedule already as it is.
"I'm not the man for the answer on the schedule, I just like to magic another week of the year somewhere!"
Welsh Fire return to action at Headingley on Sunday (14:30 BST) against Sunrisers Leeds, before playing their final group game at home to London Spirit next Wednesday.
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