Hussain: Quality of Hundred players a lot better than Blast

Nasser Hussain praised the quality of the 2026 Hundred, with 19 of the 22 players in the final being internationals, but criticised the packed schedule for England’s Test players ahead of Wednesday’s series opener against Pakistan, live from 11am on Sky Sports

Nasser Hussain has praised the quality of both domestic and international players in the Hundred, highlighting its strength compared with the Vitality Blast.

The Manchester Super Giants edged out the Trent Rockets in a thrilling men's final at Lord's, with 19 of the 22 players involved having full international caps. New Zealand's Tim Seifert stole the show, smashing an imperious 72 off 38 balls.

The three uncapped domestic players - Aneurin Donald, Ben Sanderson and Paul Walter - also impressed throughout the tournament, with Walter hitting 80 off 46 in the eliminator and Donald contributing a rapid 38 off 19 for the Rockets in the final.

The ability of domestic talent to compete with overseas international stars was on full display throughout the four-week competition - a facet of the Hundred that Hussain believes will only benefit England's white-ball setup.

"Seifert was the player of the tournament this year, but in the previous five men's tournament they've all been domestic players," Hussain said on Sky Sports.

"I like it when domestic talent and domestic players are putting on show.

"There are superstars, but really what wins you [the tournament] are people like Paul Walter. But I like the quality of the players on show this year.

"When this tournament first started I thought [the standard Hundred side] was just a little bit better than a Blast side. You now look at it, you look at the sides [in the final], you look at some of the other sides, they are a lot better.

"They are some serious sides and you're going to have to be at the top of your game [to face them]. It also helps [ECB managing director] Rob Key and [England white-ball head coach] Brendon McCullum - if you see someone young performing in the Hundred against this quality of side, then you know they've got something about them."

"The quality of players it's by far been the best I've seen. I've looked down at every team sheet and said 'wow, wow, wow.'"

Hussain, though, bemoaned the packed schedule facing England's Test players involved in the Hundred.

Test opener Ben Duckett of the Rockets, along with Super Giants seamers Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson, played in Sunday's final at Lord's just two and a half days before England's three-Test series against Pakistan gets under way at Headingley.

"[The schedule for] the England players has repercussions," Hussain added.