Fourteen Hampshire players join superstars Warner, Azam and Pollard in bidding for a place in The Hundred competition

Australia batsman David Warner has re-entered The Hundred draft, heading up a star-studded cast of over 500 players chasing 35 remaining slots in the competition.
Australia batsman David Warner has re-entered The Hundred draft, heading up a star-studded cast of over 500 players chasing 35 remaining slots in the competition. Pic: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.Australia batsman David Warner has re-entered The Hundred draft, heading up a star-studded cast of over 500 players chasing 35 remaining slots in the competition. Pic: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.
Australia batsman David Warner has re-entered The Hundred draft, heading up a star-studded cast of over 500 players chasing 35 remaining slots in the competition. Pic: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.

The inaugural edition of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s new 100-ball tournament was delayed as a result of the pandemic and will now launch this summer, with the final player picks to be settled in a virtual session next Tuesday.

The majority of selections from the last year’s televised draft have been retained during the renegotiation period, but there are still seven overseas places and 28 domestic positions to fill.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Ageas Bowl-based Southern Brave - one of the eight franchises competing - have only two spaces left to fill in their 15-man squad.

But one of those is a top price marquee signing.

In all, 252 overseas and 254 domestic players have put their name forward for selection.

But Warner is perhaps the most surprising. He was a first-round pick by Southern Brave in 2020 but pulled out in the early stages of the pandemic due to scheduling issues.

The batsman had not been expected to re-enter this year’s draft, but the postponement of Australia’s tour of South Africa has eased his workload and Warner has decided to make himself available.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He is one of 10 overseas players who have set the highest possible reserve price of £100,000, joined by the likes of Babar Azam, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Lockie Ferguson, Shakib-al-Hasan, Jason Holder, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Tamim Iqbal.

There is no Steve Smith or Mitchell Starc, both of whom initially signed up with Welsh Fire, but Marnus Labuschagne is another big name Australian on on the list at a reserve of £60,000.

Three members of England’s Test squad in India are taking part in the draft, with Ben Foakes, Olly Stone and Dom Bess all unclaimed as yet. Foakes had originally signed with Northern Superchargers but his deal was not rolled over.

Saqib Mahmood, Ravi Bopara, Jamie Overton and Jake Ball are other notable English players still seeking contracts.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Manchester Originals will be the most active franchise in the draft, with 10 places to fill having overhauled their squad almost entirely, while Welsh Fire have seven spots open.

Only three of the domestic contingent in a field of 254 have set base prices, with former England all-rounder Tim Bresnan available for £48,000 and Ryan ten Doeschate and Richard Levi set at £32,000.

Hampshire seamer Kyle Abbott will be aiming to grab one of the overseas slots. He was initially signed by London Spirit in 2020 - when he qualified as a domestic player due to his Kolpak deal - but his contract was not rolled over.

Ageas Bowl colleagues Tom Alsop, Scott Currie, Ajeet Dale, Aneurin Donald, James Fuller, Ian Holland, Lewis McManus, Sam Northeast, Tom Scriven, Ryan Stevenson, Joe Weatherley, Brad Wheal and Chris Wood are all in the draft as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Wood had signed for the Oval Invincibles in 2020 but, like Abbott, his contract was not renewed.

Ex-Hampshire batsman Rilee Rossouw is among the overseas players hoping for a deal.

Brave’s two foreign signings so far are West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell and Australian batsman Marcus Stoinis.

Ex-Hampshire all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been retained by London Spirit while Pakistan seamer Shaheen Afridi - who finished his T20 stint at the Ageas Bowl last September with four wickets in successive balls against Middlesex - will play for Birmingham Phoenix.

The Hundred will be played in July and August, to run at the same time as the Royal London 50-over Cup competition for the first class counties.