The Hundred: Nasser Hussain praises quality of 2026 tournament but criticises packed schedule ahead of Pakistan Test series

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.

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"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.

"You've got bowlers bowling here on a Sunday night who are travelling up to Headingley for a Test match on Wednesday.

"You've got an opening bat trying to tee off on a Sunday evening who could open the batting in a Test match on a Wednesday.

"So the schedule is an absolute nightmare - and this tournament does cause issues - but the one thing you cannot doubt is the quality of players that we've seen over the last three and a half weeks."

England vs Pakistan Test series fixtures

• First Test (Headingley) - Wednesday August 19 - Sunday August 23 (first ball 11am)
• Second Test (Lord's) - Thursday August 27 - Monday August 31 (first ball 11am)
• Third Test (Edgbaston) - Wednesday September 9 - Sunday September 13 (first ball 11am)

Watch the three-Test series between England and Pakistan live on Sky Sports Cricket from Wednesday (11am first ball at Headingley). Stream cricket and more top sport contract-free with NOW.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: The Hundred: Nasser Hussain praises quality of 2026 tournament but criticises packed schedule ahead of Pakistan Test series