THE draft for The Hundred took place on Wednesday so let’s take a look at how each side are expected to lineup.
Birmingham Phoenix
Birmingham have never won the competition since it began back in 2021 with their best finish being runners-up in the inaugural competition as they lost to Hampshire based side Southern Brave in the final.
They’ve been able to keep their big hitters despite former captain Mo Ali retiring from domestic cricket.
they have also managed to keep former New Zealand international Tim Southee. Along with keeping the fast bowler they were able to pick up Trent Boult.
Find out how I think they should lineup below.
London Spirit
The Spirit are another side who have never been able to win it with their best finish being third place in 2022 as they lost to the Manchester Originals in the Semi-Final.
This year they have managed to keep New Zealand captain Kane Williamson who is a key player to any side he plays for.
They also made a huge signing in the name of David Warner who cost them £125,000 who I am sure will live up to his price tag.
Below you can see their predicted lineup.
Manchester Originals
The Originals went big with their first signing in the draft this year as they picked up Afghanistan bowler Noor Ahmed as their first pick.
They were once again able to keep former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler as they claimed him as their England centrally-contracted player for yet another year.
Their best finish finish has been as runners-up, which they have done on two occasions, those being in 2022 and 2023.
Northern Superchargers
This could be the year of the Superchargers with it being the strongest they have looked since the competition began back in 2021.
Harry Brook is the captain for them this year with Ben Stokes not being an option in the draft this year.
They went big with their overseas player signings. They were able to pickup South African batter David Miller, All-rounder Mitchell Santner from New Zealand and finally pace bowler Ben Dwarshuis from Australia.
Oval Invincibles
On to the back winners now who will be looking to make it three in a row.
Sam Billings is the captain once again for the invincibles and is expected to be the wicket-keeper for them as well, despite overseas signing Donovan Ferreira also being in contention.
The other two overseas signings come from Australia and and Afghanistan. Those being pace bowler Jason Behrendorff and spin bowler Rashid Khan who bowled well in the Champions Trophy a few weeks ago.
Southern Brave
The winners of the first competition are once again looking strong with Hampshire batter James Vince as their captain for another year.
They’ve once again chose England pace bowler Jofra Archer as their centrally-contracted player who is a threat to any side when he is fit.
Their overseas signings consist of two batters and one all-rounder. Australian Finn Allen is one of the batters with the other being the big signing of Faf Du Plessis who is expected to do big things for the Southampton based sided. The all-rounder is Michael Bracewell.
Could they get their name back on the trophy this year?
Trent Rockets
The Rockets have been former champions once as they beat Manchester Originals by two wickets in 2022.
The expected captain this year is Joe Root with the side yet to choose who it will be.
They have gone for three new overseas signings, those being South African all-rounder George Linde, Marcus Stoinis, another all-round this time from Australia and finally pace bowler Lockie Ferguson who looked in good knick over the winter.
Welsh Fire
Finally we finish with the only non English side in the competition, that being the Welsh Fire.
They are yet another side who have failed to win the competition as they finished runners-up last year as they lost to the Oval Invincibles in the final.
They have chose to keep batter Tom Abell as their captain for another year with Chris Woakes being their Centrally-contracted player for this years competition.
The Welsh side have made seven new signings this year with the standout addition being star batter for Australia, Steve Smith. The other two overseas signings are all-rounder Chris Green and pace bowler Riley Meredith.
This is sure to be yet another blockbuster competition with all eight teams with strong sides.
The competition is set to start on Tuesday the 5th of August.
