The Lord’s outfield is sun drenched and there’s a sense of change as England’s summer warmth continues unabated. As The Hundred enters its sixth season, Tymal Mills is speaking at the London Spirit media day, he believes the competition is embarking on a significant new chapter. With private investment now reshaping the tournament, new team names, fresh branding across several franchises and major changes to squad personnel, the experienced fast bowler says there is a genuine sense of a “new dawn” ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Mills has joined London Spirit, who are jointly owned by the MCC and a private consortium of Indian origin Silicon Valley billionaires known as the “Tech Titans”. After spending the previous five seasons with Southern Brave, he is one of many players experiencing a fresh start. While The Hundred has been a fixture of the English cricket calendar since 2021, and in the process alienating many traditional county cricket fans, he feels this summer represents something fundamentally different.
“We’ve had five years of it already, but for most of us it is a completely new beginning,” Mills said. “A new dawn.”
The introduction of private investment worth £500 million has been one of the most significant developments in the competition’s short history. Increased financial backing has brought greater resources into the game, raised the tournament’s profile and allowed franchises to strengthen both on and off the field. While player salaries still do not rival the world’s biggest franchise tournaments such as the IPL, Mills believes the investment is an important step forward in ensuring The Hundred continues to grow.
The changes are visible across the competition. Some teams have adopted new identities, introduced updated branding and launched fresh kits, while others have retained more continuity. London Spirit, Mills’ new side, have largely kept their established identity, but the squad itself has undergone substantial change.
“There are only a few players who have been with London Spirit over the last few years,” Mills explained. “For most of us, it’s a completely new team.”
That widespread turnover means previous records may count for little. London Spirit have struggled to establish themselves as one of The Hundred’s leading franchises during the tournament’s first five seasons, a third-place finish in 2002 for the men’s team being their best achievement, but Mills does not believe past performances will define the current squad.
A major reason for Mills’ optimism is the squad assembled by London Spirit’s leadership group. Head coach Andy Flower, director of cricket Mo Bobat and the recruitment team have built a roster packed with international experience and proven performers.
“I think they’ve built a really strong squad, on paper anyway,” Mills said. “We’ve got a lot of experience and a lot of guys that know what it takes to win tournaments.”
The thirty-three year old former England pacer believes balance is one of the squad’s greatest strengths. However, Mills is equally clear that recruitment alone guarantees nothing.
“They’ve done their bit,” he said. “It’s now on to us as players to do the job out in the middle.”
One of the key figures tasked with bringing that talented group together is Flower, whose reputation as one of the game’s most successful coaches continues to grow; only last week he ruled himself out of contention for the England Test Head Coach role, despite being the favoured candidate. Mills has previously worked with the Zimbabwean in the ILT20 and is eager to do so again.
Flower’s attention to detail and meticulous planning are qualities that stand out to players who have worked under him. Whether coaching England or leading franchise teams around the world, including Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, he has consistently created success and high-performance environments. “Everybody that works with him says how meticulous he is and how well thought out and planned he is,” Mills said.
Beyond the dressing room, Mills hopes supporters embrace this new era of The Hundred with the same enthusiasm that has characterized the competition since its launch. Having spent five years with Southern Brave, he believes that the team was able to connect with local communities, despite the manufactured element of the tournament.
Mills describes how at Southampton, fans embraced the Southern Brave brand, forming the “Green Army” that helped make the Utilita Bowl one of the competition’s most vibrant venues. “I hope the fans still get behind it,” he said. “We had a really good atmosphere for the last few years,” says Mills.
For London Spirit, that means turning Lord’s into a genuine home advantage. With half of their fixtures played at the Home of Cricket, understanding the conditions and learning how to maximize home performances could prove crucial to their chances of success.
Interestingly, Mills says that despite increased investment and larger contracts, financial considerations are not something he thinks about once the action begins.
“When I’m stood at the end of my mark, I’m trying to bowl a good ball,” he said. “You shouldn’t be thinking about how much money you’re on when you’re out on the pitch.”
As The Hundred enters a trans formative period, Mills sees opportunity rather than uncertainty. New ownership structures, new teammates, fresh ambitions and new investment have all combined to create a renewed sense of anticipation around the competition.
For London Spirit and Mills himself, the challenge is simple: embrace the fresh start, build on the foundations laid by management and help shape what could be a defining new era for The Hundred.
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