With the inaugural player auctions pencilled in for March, the eight men’s and women’s teams in the re-worked Hundred have begun nailing down their early selections. Each outfit can secure up to four players before the 16 January deadline. At least one must come from last summer’s squad, no more than two may be overseas, and only two can hold an ECB central contract for 2024-26. The competition itself runs from 21 July to 16 August.
Birmingham Phoenix
Men: Jacob Bethell stays, while leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed switches from Trent Rockets.
Women: Australia’s Ellyse Perry is retained; England all-rounder Alice Capsey joins from Oval Invincibles.
Head coaches: Shane Bond (men), Ali Maiden (women).
London Spirit
Men: Liam Livingstone links up from Phoenix, Jamie Overton remains.
Women: no early signings.
Head coaches: Andy Flower (men), Jon Lewis (women).
Manchester Super Giants
No retentions announced so far.
Head coaches still to be confirmed, though back-room talks are understood to be ongoing.
MI London
Yet to reveal either men’s or women’s pre-signings. Franchise officials say discussions are “progressing”.
Southern Brave
Men: Jofra Archer, fit again after elbow surgery, is the sole retention.
Women: Lauren Bell continues after a breakthrough 2024.
Head coaches: to be confirmed under the new ownership structure.
Sunrisers Leeds
Men: Harry Brook and Brydon Carse stay; Australians Mitch Marsh and Nathan Ellis take the two overseas berths.
Women: England seamer Kate Cross plus Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield all commit.
Head coaches: Daniel Vettori (men), Adi Birrell (women).
Trent Rockets
Men: Singapore-born big-hitter Tim David fills the overseas slot.
Women: England vice-captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is retained.
Head coaches: Peter Moores (men), Chris Read (women).
Welsh Fire
Men: England opener Phil Salt crosses the Pennines from Manchester Originals.
Women: no confirmations yet.
Head coaches: Mike Hussey (men), Michael Klinger (women).
How the rules work
• Up to four direct picks per team.
• At least one must have played for the side in 2025.
• A maximum of two overseas signings and two centrally-contracted England players.
• Remaining squad spots – and all salaries – decided at the March auction.
Early thoughts
The Phoenix look settled, pairing teenage prodigy Bethell with England-capped Ahmed, while Perry’s retention brings both runs and leadership to their women’s group. Sunrisers Leeds have moved quickest, banking four experienced internationals in the men’s set-up and three in the women’s, though salary caps mean they may have to hunt for budget options later on.
Southern Brave’s decision to keep Archer is no surprise; his workload, however, will be closely managed. London Spirit’s punt on Livingstone suggests a shift towards power-hitting at Lord’s. Several clubs – notably MI London and Manchester Super Giants – are keeping their powder dry, possibly eyeing bigger names once the global calendar becomes clearer.
Plenty of business remains. Expect a flurry of announcements in the final week before the window closes, after which attention will turn to that first draft-style auction in March – a new, and potentially chaotic, chapter for English domestic cricket.
