The biggest cricket fans live in London and the West Midlands – home to two of the UK’s most famous grounds, Lord’s and Edgbaston. A survey of 2,000 adults found 61 percent of those in the capital are fans – well above the national average of 40 percent.
The West Midlands (44 percent) and the North West (41 percent) are other hotspots for the game.
And 51 percent of 18-24-year-olds are cricket fans – higher than any other age group. This was followed by those aged 25-34, with 43 percent of this age group being self-confessed cricket lovers.
Mark Vile, from price comparison website Compare the Market, which is sponsoring The Hundred and commissioned the research, said: “There’s so much to love about the game of cricket.
“Across the country, there’s huge support for the game, which goes from strength to strength. From close and thrilling games to strategic gameplay and tactics, there’s something for everyone to love.”
The research also found Londoners think they have the best knowledge of the game – with 37 percent claiming to have a very good or good understanding.
Those in the North West are also sufficiently brushed up on their knowledge of bat and ball, with 26 percent believing they have a good grasp.
And the top ways fans keep up to date with matches and events include on TV (66 percent), sports websites and apps (55 percent), and social media (32 percent).
It also emerged that among the 33 percent of respondents who have children, aged between seven and 18-years-old, just 36 percent reckon they have a better understanding than their child.
And 47 percent felt that if online gamers played or talked about the game, their children would become more interested in the sport.
It comes as Compare the Market and The Hundred have teamed up with three social media video gamers across the course of the tournament, to commentate on some key games.
Among the stars are Captain Puffy, SMajor, and Solidarity Gaming, who have more than three million followers between them across their social media platforms.
Captain Puffy said: “I didn’t know much about cricket before I got into The Hundred, but I’m getting to grips with it pretty quickly and turning into quite the fan.
“It’s such a fast-paced game, and it’s been amazing to be a part of and educate my community along the way.”
Mark Vile, from Compare the Market, added: “It has been great opening up The Hundred to a new and younger audience in this way with the help of our gamers, allowing for a new generation of fans to soak up the electrifying atmosphere the game has to offer.
“We look forward to engaging more fans throughout the tournament, and experiencing some world-class cricket along the way.”
