August is almost here, but despite England’s brilliance in the two test victories over the West Indies, Somerset reaching T20 finals day, attention once again will focus throughout the month on the Hundred competition writes Merv Colenutt.

There is talk of a change however in the set-up, with the England and Wales Cricket Board looking to switch the Hundred to a T20 format, not sure what that is going to gain, but the plans are to keep the Hundred name.

This however will not come into force until the present set up ends in 2029, so to the true traditionist of the game of cricket, this has to be another nail in the coffin of our true no 1 summer sport.

Who can really believe under it’s present format away from the players, can possibly say that the Hundred has been a success to the genuine cricket public.

Sky invested £375 million over a nine year period, but despite the players pocketing extra revenue, where does that fit in for the future of our once great game that was fought out over three competitions, five Test Matches, the county championship and the 40 over competition.

The other talk of change in the Hundred which could possibly benefit Somerset fans, is in the fact that from 2029, two extra teams may be added, one in the North East and one in the South West, so although Taunton might be added to the list, it’s still a five year wait, once again short change for members of Somerset County Cricket Club.

On that basis there appears to be no plans to abandon the Hundred, in fact looking at future plans, it looks as though the plan is to continue building on the competition, despite no other franchises around the world at present looking to take up the same options.

Test match cricket however continues to thrive despite 6 games being crammed into just two months and the crowds have proved once again that test match cricket does have a future with the support of the purists who love the game and there is no doubt that on a flat wicket at Trent Bridge, England bowled superbly to bowl out West Indies in that second innings to win the game inside 4 days.

As always England appear to have a new hero following each victory, Surrey’s Gus Atkinson at Lords and of course our very own Somerset spinner Shoaib Bashir at Nottingham, for the 20 year old  who has yet to make his mark at Somerset, the young man must have so much ability to be seen by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum and perform so superbly for England, what a special talent.