The Hundred franchises lock in their retentions for 2026 with Harry Brook set for £470,000 Hundred pay-day.
As the tournament’s new owners rush to secure their direct signings and retentions before the auctions in March, Harry Brook is expected to receive up to £500,000 for participating in the Hundred next year.
After England’s eight-wicket loss to Australia at the Gabba, Brook is in Noosa for England’s mid-Ashes break. He has captained Northern Superchargers for the previous two Hundreds and has agreed to a deal worth about £470,000 to remain with the team under their new name, Sunrisers Leeds, potentially making him the highest earner in the competition.
Brook stated that international franchise cricket would need to take “a step back” when he was chosen England’s white-ball captain last year. He is now serving a two-year ban from the IPL after opting out of a contract with Delhi Capitals. However, the Hundred’s recent investment guarantees that he will continue to get a substantial salary in addition to his two-year contract with England Central.
For the first five seasons of the competition, the eight hundred teams were managed centrally; however, host counties and private investors now have operational control and will manage the franchises as joint ventures. The sole exception is Sunrisers, which earlier this year acquired Yorkshire’s whole 51 percent ownership.
Teams have been moving quickly to recruit players as soon as possible since the retention window opened on November 27. Depending on the number of players that have pre-signed, the ECB has determined deductions from team pay restrictions; however, teams are free to divide the funds anyway they see fit within those limitations.
Top earnings in the Hundred have almost doubled in just two years thanks to Brook’s new agreement. In the men’s competition, the top wage band rose from £125,000 (2024) to £200,000 (2025), while in the women’s competition, it went from £50,000 (2024) to £65,000 (2025).
Before the first auctions in March, the eight men’s and women’s teams have until January 16 to confirm their retentions. The Hundred will take place between the England men’s series against Pakistan (three Tests) and India (five T20Is and three ODIs) from July 21 to August 16 next summer.
Following his release by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Livingstone is anticipated to draw multiple offers in next Tuesday’s IPL auction, where a number of well-known England players are expecting for payouts. Josh Tongue is a prominent name on the longlist after finishing the previous season as the Hundred’s top wicket-taker, and Jonny Bairstow, Jordan Cox, and Jamie Smith are also set to land deals.