The Hundred 2023: English presenter invites severe backlash after referring to Australian cricketer Maitlan Brown as 'little Barbie'

The Women's Hundred got underway on Tuesday, August 1, as Trent Rockets Women (TRT-W) locked horns with Southern Brave Women (SOB-W) at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Anya Shrubsole-led SOB-W emerged victorious by 27 runs in the curtain raiser.

However, the person that was in the spotlight for the wrong reason wasn't even a part of the game. English presenter Chris Hughes irked people with his insensitive remark during an on-field live television interview with Australian cricketer Maitlan Brown of SOB-W during the first innings. For the unversed, Hughes was a part of the reality show Love Island.

Hollywood movie, Barbie, has done brilliantly at the box office, receiving thumbs up from the fans. Maitlan Brown shared during the interview that her team watched the movie together to enhance their bonding. The quality of the interview went downhill from here as Hughes shockingly reacted to the comment from Brown by saying, "You're a little Barbie yourself innit with your blue eyes."

Brown, 26, looked bewildered as she managed to come up with an uncomfortable laugh. Since the incident took place, Hughes has been lambasted on social media, with fans terming his remark as 'sexist' and something that should not be tolerated anywhere, including the sports field. To make matters more frustrating, Hughes went on to exclaim that Brown was blushing after listening to his remark.

Fans drew similarities with an incident during the Big Bash League in 2016, where Chris Gayle was fined USD 10,000 by his club, the Melbourne Renegades, after asking TV reporter Mel McLaughlin for a date on live television. The two-time T20 World Cup-winning cricketer was fined on grounds of "inappropriate conduct".

Southern Brave Women win the tournament opener

SOB-W were invited to bat first and put on 157 runs in their innings. Smriti Mandhana starred with the bat as she scored an entertaining 55 off 36 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. TRT-W lost by 27 runs as 18-year-old Mary Taylor picked up three wickets to rattle Nat Sciver-Brunt's team.

India's vice-captain Smriti was adjudged Player of the Match. Her compatriot Harmanpreet Kaur, who was on the opposition side, couldn't convert her start as she was dismissed for 22 in 17 balls.