Sunrisers Leeds have handed the captaincy to Dani Gibson only weeks after securing her for a hefty £190,000 at The Hundred draft – the highest salary ever paid to an English player in the women’s competition.
The 22-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder, currently in England’s squad for this month’s T20 World Cup, has never led a senior side. Even so, Sunrisers reckon her energy and all-round skills outweigh the inexperience. She steps in for Hollie Armitage, title-winning skipper with Northern Superchargers last summer, who moved to MI London during the same draft.
Gibson admitted after the bidding frenzy that she felt “a bit like a fraud”, adding to the Cricketer: “I really didn’t enjoy the week after… It wasn’t the nicest period, although it is such an amazing thing.” The comment underlines just how quickly the women’s game is shifting – big money, bigger spotlight.
Experienced hands will be close by. England seamer Kate Cross, retained ahead of the auction, expects to act as sounding board alongside Jess Jonassen and Lauren Winfield-Hill. “It’ll probably be a challenge for her, but that’s what cricket looks like now,” Cross told ESPNcricinfo. “There’s nowhere to hide. No matter what you’re earning, there’s press at every game now… It really does feel like there’s pressure on everyone, all the time.”
Cross is confident Gibson’s game will stand up. “It will be a challenge for Dani, but what we’re seeing with her in an England shirt at the minute is her finding that role, and her clarity of how she plays her cricket. She’s going to be a great addition for us up in Leeds.”
Elsewhere, Armitage (MI London) and Charlie Dean (London Spirit) have also been confirmed as captains for 2026, joining previously announced leaders Ellyse Perry (Birmingham Phoenix) and Meg Lanning (Manchester Super Giants).
