ECB: Top players are back and playing in The Hundred this summer

Photo Credit: England & Wales Cricket Board

The countdown to The Hundred is on as the first players signed up for this year’s competition are revealed today ahead of another explosive summer of world-class sport and family-friendly entertainment.

Today’s deadline day sees all eight men’s and women’s teams reveal which players from last year’s inaugural competition they are keeping hold of for 2022.

• Over 150 men’s and women’s players from 2021 have been retained by their team
• 28 centrally contracted England players and 19 international names confirmed so far
• Women’s title holders Oval Invincibles retain most of their side including captain and last year’s Most Valuable Women’s Player Dané Van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, England stars Tash Farrant and Mady Villiers, and 2021 breakthrough star Alice Capsey
• Current men’s champions Southern Brave retain ten players with Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills and James Vince all returning for year two along with Jofra Archer, who was signed last year but unable to play because of injury
• Overseas stars Ellyse Perry, Lizelle Lee, Marcus Stoinis, Smriti Mandhana, Rashid Khan, Alyssa Healy , Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell will join the action this summer
• Heather Knight, Jos Buttler, Sophia Dunkley, Joe Root, Kate Cross and Moeen Ali among the England stars confirmed

The first year of The Hundred proved a big hit with families and young people in particular relishing the mix of fast-paced cricket with music and family entertainment off the pitch. Eight teams, based across seven cities, compete in double-header men’s and women’s matches.

The first tickets for this year’s competition go on sale this week, with people who bought last year able to snap up their seats from tomorrow.

And anyone who missed out last year but wants to come this year can get priority access from March 31 by signing up at www.thehundred.com.

Retained stars revealed

Birmingham Phoenix welcome back the likes of England star Moeen Ali, Tom Abell and the biggest hitter of last year’s competition, Liam Livingstone, to their men’s squad. As they have nine players retained they will be looking to fill five spots in The Draft. The women’s side have announced 12 retained players including a few of those who couldn’t make it last year due to Covid-19 restrictions. Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry and New Zealand captain Sophie Devine will join Phoenix playing alongside Amy Jones, Kirstie Gordon and Issy Wong.

London Spirit have kept on England Women’s captain Heather Knight as well as breakout star Charlie Dean and England teammate Freya Davies. The women’s side will be looking to sign seven more players to complete their team whereas the men’s have six spots to fill in The Draft. Eoin Morgan will again lead the Lord’s home-side with a star-studded dressing room including Ravi Bopara and Aussie batter Glenn Maxwell.

The world’s top ranked women’s IT20 bowler, Sophie Ecclestone, will remain with the Manchester Originals along with recently England-capped Emma Lamb and South African batter Lizelle Lee. The men’s team have a wealth of homegrown talent staying with them in Phil Salt and Matt Parkinson as well as England keeper Jos Buttler.

Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, Faf du Plessis and Harry Brook are just a few names that have signed with Northern Superchargers for 2022. The women’s side welcomes back the top individual run scorer of the women’s competition, Jemimah Rodrigues, who stole the show with a stunning 92 not out against Welsh Fire at Headingley last year.

Reigning women’s champions Oval Invincibles retain much of their side including captain Dané van Niekerk, Mady Villiers and breakout star, Alice Capsey. Sam Billings, Saqib Mahmood and the Curran brothers are also staying put this year.

Men’s title holders Southern Brave retain much of their winning squad including Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills and centrally contracted Jofra Archer who missed out last year with an elbow injury. The women’s squad have retained England trio Anya Shrubsole, Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley as well as Smriti Mandhana.

England duo Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt are sticking with Trent Rockets alongside England teammate Sarah Glenn. Meanwhile, the men’s side have retained England Test captain Joe Root, Afghanistan superstar Rashid Khan and Dawid Malan.

Welsh Fire have resecured England stars Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball and Ollie Pope and the women’s squad will see the return of West Indian all-rounder Hayley Matthews, Katie George and Claire Nicholas, who returns in 2022 after opting out of the 2021 competition following the birth of her second child.

What happens next?

Teams will now turn their attention to planning which new players they want to snap up to strengthen their line-ups this year.

The men’s squads will fill their remaining slots at The Hundred Draft on 30 March, where they will take turns to pick from the hundreds of domestic and international cricketers expected to sign up in search of earning a place in the competition. London Spirit will have the first pick followed by Welsh Fire and Manchester Originals. Welsh Fire will be the busiest side during The Draft, with seven slots to fill, including three overseas spots.

New signings, both domestic and overseas, will be announced by the women’s side on the same day, including any England women’s stars who have signed for a new team in 2022.

For the first time, both men’s and women’s sides will be able to select an additional fourth overseas player for their squad in an overseas Wildcard Draft in June. Teams will still only be able to field three overseas players in their playing XI.

The women’s teams will be finalised through the open market signing process, which concludes at the end of June, giving domestic players plenty of motivation to catch the eye during the Charlotte Edwards Cup. The men’s squads will be finalised in early July with the domestic Wildcard Draft pick.

Tickets

Fans will be able to get their hands on tickets in two priority windows, firstly from today County members can get exclusive first access to tickets for themselves, friends and family. From tomorrow (23 February) previous ticket buyers can buy tickets and then previous attendees will be able to buy 48 hours later on 24 February.

A second window will begin on 31 March for anyone who has signed up via thehundred.com. Tickets will then go on general sale on 20 April.

Tickets start at £5 for under 16s and free for children aged five and under with activities around the ground to entertain families.

Quotes

Issy Wong, who will play again for Birmingham Phoenix, said: “I’m so excited to be back playing with Birmingham Phoenix this summer. Last year was incredible for us and the women’s game, it’s only going to get bigger and better with world-class players like Ellyse Perry being able to join this time around. We can’t wait to get going again and to perform in front of full houses again.”

Eoin Morgan, who will feature for London Spirit again, said: “The first year of The Hundred was a huge success. We saw quality cricket in front of incredible crowds, and it was awesome to see so many families coming to watch. It was also really special to see so many fans watching both us and the women’s team and it’s undeniable that The Hundred as has a massive impact on the women’s game.

“We are delighted to have the first pick in The Draft. We hope to add strength and depth to our squad. We can’t wait to see who’s available to snap up.”

Sophie Ecclestone, who has been retained by Manchester Originals, said: “The Hundred is such a cool competition to be involved in and I’m thrilled to be taking part again with Manchester Originals. We were really getting into a groove in the back end of the competition last year, so we have nothing but high hopes for this summer.”

Rashid Khan, who will play again for Trent Rockets, said: “I loved taking part in the first edition of The Hundred last year. Playing a new format for the first time was a lot of fun as a bowler. The fans at Trent Bridge were amazing and I can’t wait to get back and entertain them this summer. Hopefully we can go one better and make the final.”

Full list of players announced today:

Retained Players

ECB