All four of The Hundred's fixtures scheduled for Wednesday will be illuminated from start to finish as organisers respond to the upcoming solar eclipse. The celestial event, which will see the Moon obscure as much as ninety percent of the Sun’s disc, is set to unfold between 6:17 p.m. and 8:06 p.m., reaching its maximum intensity just after 7:00 p.m.
This will be the first partial eclipse visible from Europe in 27 years, and in some locations the alignment of Sun, Moon and Earth will produce a total eclipse, plunging the sky into a brief period of darkness. During the eclipse the ambient light will dim noticeably, temperatures are expected to dip a few degrees, and local breezes may shift direction as the Sun disappears behind the Moon’s silhouette.
After a short interval the Sun will re‑emerge, restoring daylight and normal conditions. Because the timing of the eclipse coincides with the start of The Hundred’s Wednesday programme, the competition’s administrators have decided to keep the stadium floodlights on for the entire duration of each match. This precaution will ensure that players, officials and spectators enjoy consistent visibility, regardless of the temporary loss of natural light.
The Wednesday schedule features two women’s games and two men’s games, all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. In Cardiff, the Welsh Fire women will open the day at 11:30 a.m.
against London Spirit women, followed by the men’s encounter between the same clubs at 3:00 p.m. Later, at Edgbaston, Birmingham Phoenix women will host MI London from 3:00 p.m., with the men’s teams meeting at 6:30 p.m. Fans are being urged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience, and additional messaging will be displayed throughout the venues to remind spectators of the eclipse and the need for proper eye protection. Experts stress that the only safe way to view the eclipse directly is with specially certified solar‑eclipse glasses.
Ordinary sunglasses, smoked glass or any other improvised filters do not provide adequate protection and can cause serious eye injury. Sky Sports will also be sharing updates via its WhatsApp channel, offering live news, video highlights, analysis and other content related to the matches and the eclipse. Beyond cricket, the eclipse will also affect other sporting events on the same day. Kempton Park is set to host a series of horse races that will take place during the eclipse window.
While the twilight meeting at Ffos Las has been adjusted to start and finish earlier to guarantee that all six races occur in daylight, Kempton’s schedule can remain unchanged thanks to the permanent floodlighting installed at the Sunbury circuit. The eclipse at Kempton is predicted to peak between 7:02 p.m. and 7:16 p.m., precisely when races are slated for 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Barney Clifford, Kempton’s clerk of the course, recalled the last time an eclipse coincided with racing nearly three decades ago, noting that the venue then lacked floodlights. "I wasn’t even at Kempton back then, but I remember the darkness," he said.
"We’ll have the lights on well before doors open. The exact coverage of the Sun is uncertain, so we prefer to err on the side of caution and keep the illumination on for the entire evening." For cricket fans, the decision to keep the floodlights on means uninterrupted viewing of The Hundred’s dramatic moments, from powerful sixes to tight fielding efforts, even as the sky darkens for a few minutes. The tournament’s tables for both men’s and women’s competitions are being updated in real time, and viewers can follow the action on Sky Sports, NOW streaming service, or via the official Hundred app. The tournament will continue through to its finals on Sunday, 16 August, with all matches available contract‑free on NOW.
In summary, the partial solar eclipse will create a unique backdrop for Wednesday’s sporting programme. By maintaining floodlight operation across all venues, organisers aim to safeguard the quality of play, protect the safety of spectators, and deliver a seamless experience despite the celestial spectacle. Attendees are encouraged to enjoy the eclipse responsibly, using approved glasses, and to stay tuned for live updates, post‑match analysis and highlights across Sky Sports’ platforms.