Heather Knight, the skipper of England’s cricket team, Ashes rival David Warner, the seasoned 42-year-old James Anderson, and the youthful 16-year-old Rocky Flintoff are among the prominent figures attracting interest in next week’s Hundred draft. This event promises to be a captivating spectacle.
With over 800 eager players lining up for a shot at playing in this summer’s competition, many are bracing for disappointment as only 39 spots in the men’s tournament and 29 in the women’s will be claimed next Wednesday. It’s a tough race, but hope and excitement fill the air.
London Spirit decided not to hold onto Knight during the off-season, but the odds are they’ll use their right-to-match card to reel her back in at the top £65,000 pay tier. Her leadership is certainly an asset they’d want to keep.
Interestingly, there’s a notable wage gap. The men have a pay ceiling that’s £135,000 more than the women. Knight highlighted this disparity at the Professional Cricketers’ Association AGM, pointing out that this growing divide doesn’t give a good impression, especially now when more funds are being poured into the format.
Turning to overseas signings, these players are always a major draw. With eight slots available for international stars in the men’s league, Warner is making a strong bid, asking for a £120,000 reserve. Meanwhile, Steve Smith, fresh from concluding his ODI career, has already secured a deal with Welsh Fire. Notable Aussie players like Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis, and Adam Zampa are pegged at the same figure, while Jake Fraser-McGurk is targeting the lower £78,500 band.
New Zealand’s talent isn’t going unnoticed either, with Rachin Ravindra, Matt Henry, and Will O’Rourke all in the mix. Afghanistan’s spinner, Noor Ahmad, stands out with his £200,000 reserve and is reportedly on Manchester Originals’ radar.
Given recent injury woes, England’s fast bowler Mark Wood is unlikely to sign up now; his £200,000 reserve remains in place, perhaps as a placeholder should he step in later as a substitute. Meanwhile, Jamie Overton might start at £78,500, but his demand could well fetch a higher price, and Test opener Zak Crawley is also available after his release from Spirit. Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Rehan Ahmed, Dan Lawrence, Reece Topley, and David Willey are among the English players looking for contracts.
On the rising stars front, Rocky Flintoff, a promising talent from the England Lions and son of Andrew Flintoff, coach of Northern Superchargers, is keen on attracting attention, alongside prospects like Michael Vaughan’s son Archie, Hamza Sheikh, Ben McKinney, and Rehan’s brother Farhan.
And speaking of seasoned pros, it’s just come to light that James Anderson, England’s record-breaking wicket-taker, has thrown his hat into the ring for a competition he’s usually only commentated on.
In the women’s draft, watch for Sophia Dunkley likely heading back to Welsh Fire, while Paige Schofield could join Oval Invincibles. Emma Lamb, Mady Villiers, and Issy Wong are anticipated to secure places as well.
India’s Richa Ghosh remains the sole player demanding a £65,000 base, with Birmingham Phoenix appearing as the ideal fit given their available overseas and pay slots. As for Australia’s Alyssa Healy, she’ll surely be in high demand at £50,000.
For more up-to-the-minute updates, stay tuned to hear about James Anderson’s full participation in the Hundred draft.
