Key Players to Watch in This Season's The Hundred

The sixth edition of The Hundred kicks off on Tuesday, with full live coverage on Sky Sports. As the tournament unfolds, each franchise brings a blend of seasoned internationals and emerging talent, and fans will be keen to spot the performers who can turn matches on their heads. Below is a comprehensive guide to the squads, their coaching staff, captains, home venues, and the players who are likely to make a significant impact, along with some additional context to help you follow the action.

### Phoenix (Birmingham) **Coaches:** Shane Bond (men), Ali Maiden (women) **Captains:** Donovan Ferreira (men), Ellyse Perry (women) **Home ground:** Edgbaston **Women’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Alice Capsey £130k, **Ellyse Perry** £100k, Linsey Smith £100k, Lauren Filer £95k, Tammy Beaumont £70k, Davina Perrin £50k, Alana King £37.5k, Jemima Spence £37.5k, Eva Gray £30k, Emma Lamb £27.5k, Phoebe Brett £27.5k, Esmae MacGregor £16k, Annerie Dercksen £15k, Eve O'Neill £15k, plus Mary Taylor, Fatima Sana, Kayla Reneke. **Women to watch:** Tammy Beaumont, who stepped away from England duties, will be looking to rekindle her big‑hit reputation.

She remains one of only two women to have recorded a century in The Hundred, sharing that honour with her Phoenix teammate Davina Perrin. The 19‑year‑old Perrin announced herself with a blistering 42‑ball ton in last year’s eliminator for Northern Superchargers and could form a devastating opening partnership with Beaumont before vying for a place in the England side.

**Men’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Rehan Ahmed £250k, Donovan Ferreira £210k, Scott Currie £210k, Saqib Mahmood £150k, Usman Tariq £140k, Mitchell Owen £130k, Mustafizur Rahman £100k, Joe Clarke £85k, Laurie Evans £85k, Chris Wood £70k, Jordan Thompson £60k, Will Smeed £55k, plus Matthew Montgomery, Tom Helm, Sean Dickson. **Men to watch:** Jacob Bethell’s injury ruled him out, leaving a vacancy that Phoenix hope to fill with Australia’s Mitchell Owen and reliable county batsmen Joe Clarke and Will Smeed.

Pakistan’s spinner Usman Tariq, despite a quirky low‑arm action that has drawn both amusement and criticism, possesses a deceptive turn that can be a game‑changer on the shorter format. --- ### Spirit (London) **Coaches:** Andy Flower (men), Jon Lewis (women) **Captains:** Liam Livingstone (men), Charlie Dean (women) **Home ground:** Lord’s **Women’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Nadine de Klerk £170k, Marizanne Kapp £130k, **Charlie Dean** £85k, Charis Pavely £85k, Grace Harris £70k, Amy Jones £70k, Deandra Dottin £37.5k, Sterre Kalis £27.5k, Marie Kelly £20k, Seren Smale £15k, Lucy Higham £15k, Josephine Groves £15k, plus Trudy Johnson, Liv Barnes, Katie George, Hannah Rainey. **Women to watch:** Spirit’s overseas power‑hitters Grace Harris and Deandra Dottin bring raw six‑hitting ability. Captain Charlie Dean, who stepped in for England’s Nat Sciver‑Brunt during the summer, is being groomed as a long‑term leader.

Young all‑rounder Charis Pavely has excelled for England A and a strong Hundred season could accelerate her senior‑team ambitions. **Men’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** James Coles £390k, Liam Livingstone £350k, Jamie Overton £225k, Adam Zampa £190k, Dewald Brevis £185k, Jonny Bairstow £160k, Tymal Mills £130k, David Willey £120k, Adam Milne £50k, Mason Crane £31k, James Rew £31k, Lhuandré Pretorius £31k, Matthew Fisher £31k, plus Henry Crocombe, Kiran Carlson, Andrew Tye.

**Men to watch:** Veterans David Willey, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone provide experience, while leg‑spinner Adam Zampa adds variety. The most talked‑about signing is James Coles, whose £390k price tag makes him the most expensive player in the league; his calm demeanor suggests he can handle the pressure. Young seamer Henry Crocombe, a promising talent from Sussex now moving to Surrey, is also on the England radar. --- ### Super Giants (Manchester) **Coaches:** Justin Langer (men), Matthew Mott (women) **Captains:** Aiden Markram (men), Meg Lanning (women) **Home ground:** Emirates Old Trafford **Women’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Paige Scholfield £115k, Sophie Ecclestone £110k, **Meg Lanning** £95k, Smriti Mandhana £90k, Ryana MacDonald‑Gay £75k, Kathryn Bryce £65k, Richa Ghosh £50k, Mady Villiers £45k, Grace Ballinger £42.5k, Maitlan Brown £40k, Grace Scrivens £40k, Jo Gardner £17k, Natasha Wraith £15k, Rebecca Tyson £15k, plus Mia Rogers, Beth Langston.

**Women to watch:** India’s elegant opener Smriti Mandhana will delight fans with her textbook cover drives, while England’s spin wizard Sophie Ecclestone offers world‑class left‑arm orthodox bowling. Left‑arm seamer Grace Ballinger, who claimed 20 wickets in The Blaze’s Vitality Blast triumph, and left‑handed batter Grace Scrivens, who scored 428 runs for Essex, are both strong candidates for future England selection.

**Men’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Jos Buttler £350k, Heinrich Klaasen £250k, Josh Tongue £200k, Aiden Markram £200k, Noor Ahmad £175k, Liam Dawson £175k, Leus du Plooy £120k, Tim Seifert £100k, Sonny Baker £95k, Gus Atkinson £70k, Tom Moores £50k, Tawanda Muyeye £50k, Tom Hartley £35k, Max Holden £31k, George Scrimshaw £31k, Paul Walter £31k, plus James Sales, Adam Finch. **Men to watch:** Super Giants coach Justin Langer is attracting attention as a potential England Test coach. On the field, the explosive Jos Buttler, the hard‑hitting Heinrich Klaasen and the powerful Aiden Markram can dominate any bowling attack, while young talent Tawanda Muyeye possesses a full repertoire of shots. Seamer James Sales impressed in Northants’ recent Blast win, taking 25 wickets, including three in the final.

--- ### Oval Invincibles (London) **Coaches:** Kieron Pollard (men), Lisa Keightley (women) **Captains:** Sam Curran (men), Hollie Armitage (women) **Home ground:** The Kia Oval **Women’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Hayley Matthews £120k, Danni Wyatt‑Hodge £110k, Nicola Carey £95k, Melie Kerr £80k, Kira Chathli £80k, Chinelle Henry £70k, Kirstie Gordon £55k, Hollie Armitage £45k, Alexa Stonehouse £42.5k, Tara Norris £35k, Alice Davidson‑Richards £30k, Alice Monaghan £27.5k, Ellie Threlkeld £15k, Kalea Moore £15k, Danielle Gregory £15k, plus Kate Coppack, Francesca Sweet. **Women to watch:** Although Hollie Armitage is unlikely to add to her six England caps, she remains a prolific run‑scorer in domestic cricket and a shrewd captain. West Indies captain Hayley Matthews and South Africa’s Melie Kerr will provide both firepower and leadership, while England’s veteran Danni Wyatt‑Hodge and promising all‑rounder Kira Chathli add depth to the batting order. **Men’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Sam Curran £350k, Tom Curran £260k, Will Jacks £250k, James Vince £190k, Nicholas Pooran £175k, Rashid Khan £175k, Nathan Sowter £130k, Trent Boult £100k, Sherfane Rutherford £100k, Richard Gleeson £65k, Olly Stone £50k, Ollie Pope £31k, Ollie Sykes £31k, Callum Parkinson £31k, Jason Roy £31k, plus Eddie Jack, Seb Morgan.

**Men to watch:** Oval Invincibles are chasing a fourth consecutive men’s title. Core players Sam and Tom Curran, Will Jacks and Nathan Sowter remain, while the marquee signings Rashid Khan and James Vince add world‑class experience.

Young pacers Eddie Jack and Seb Morgan could emerge as surprise contributors. --- ### Northern Superchargers (Leeds) **Coaches:** Hemang Badani (men), Jonathan Batty (women) **Captains:** Chris Jordan (men), Sophie Molineux (women) **Home ground:** The Utilita Bowl **Women’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Lauren Bell £140k, Issy Wong £130k, Tilly Corteen‑Coleman £105k, Maia Bouchier £85k, Laura Wolvaardt £75k, Sarah Glenn £75k, Jemimah Rodrigues £60k, Sophie Molineux £47.5k, Jodi Grewcock £30k, Lizelle Lee £27.5k, Rebecca Odgers £15k, Phoebe Franklin £15k, Daisy Gibb £15k, Ellie Anderson £15k, plus Naomi Dattani, Katherine Fraser.

**Women to watch:** Teenager Tilly Corteen‑Coleman, who fetched over £100k in the auction, is a fast‑bowling prodigy with a bright future. She joins a pace attack featuring Lauren Bell and Issy Wong. The Brave have previously missed out on only one final in the first five editions and, with Australian captain Sophie Molineux and South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt, they look poised to challenge for the trophy again. **Men’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Jofra Archer £400k, Jamie Smith £300k, Adil Rashid £250k, Chris Jordan £160k, Marcus Stoinis £150k, Luke Wood £130k, David Miller £110k, Tristan Stubbs £100k, Thomas Rew £80k, Dan Worrall £80k, Caleb Falconer £55k, Ben McKinney £45k, Michael Pepper £31k, Tom Abell £31k, Nikhil Chaudhary £31k, plus Manny Lumsden, Saif Zaib.

**Men to watch:** The Brave’s bowling will be anchored by England stalwarts Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, complemented by the experienced Chris Jordan. Young paceman Manny Lumsden, only 17, could make a name for himself if given opportunities. Batting will revolve around England Test keeper Jamie Smith, teenage talent Thomas Rew and hard‑hitting Australian Marcus Stoinis. --- ### Sunrisers (Leeds) **Coaches:** Daniel Vettori (men), Adrian Birrell (women) **Captains:** Zak Crawley (men), Dani Gibson (women) **Home ground:** Headingley **Women’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Danielle Gibson £190k, Annabel Sutherland £130k, Phoebe Litchfield £120k, Jess Jonassen £110k, Cassidy McCarthy £65k, Kate Cross £50k, Deepti Sharma £27.5k, Bryony Smith £27.5k, Lauren Winfield‑Hill £27.5k, Hannah Baker £18k, Claudie Cooper £15k, plus Darcey Carter, Sophia Turner, Emily Windsor, Katie Jones, Chloe Skelton.

**Women to watch:** All‑rounder Dani Gibson, signed for a record £190k, will also lead the side. She brings World Cup experience, while teammates Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland were part of Australia’s recent T20 triumph.

India’s Deepti Sharma, a key figure in their 2025 50‑over World Cup win, adds further firepower. Young Scottish talent Darcey Carter, 21, offers a promising all‑round option. **Men’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Harry Brook £465k, Dan Lawrence £210k, Mitchell Marsh £200k, Abrar Ahmed £190k, Zak Crawley £180k, Ryan Rickelton £150k, Nathan Ellis £145k, Brydon Carse £140k, Matthew Potts £75k, Benny Howell £50k, Tom Lawes £40k, Tom Alsop £31k, Liam Patterson‑White £31k, Reece Topley £31k, Ed Barnard £31k, plus Matty Revis, Charlie Allison.

**Men to watch:** England’s white‑ball captain Harry Brook is a spectacle with the bat – his unorthodox strokes can win matches in an instant. Zak Crawley, now leading Sunrisers, will likely open with Australian all‑rounder Mitchell Marsh, whose partner Nathan Ellis brings a varied bowling arsenal. --- ### Rockets (Nottingham) **Coaches:** Peter Moores (men), Chris Read (women) **Captains:** Sam Billings (men), Ash Gardner (women) **Home ground:** Trent Bridge **Women’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Beth Mooney £210k, Nat Sciver‑Brunt £140k, Ash Gardner £100k, Sophia Dunkley £78k, Kim Garth £42k, Emma Jones £35k, Bess Heath £32.5k, Katie Levick £32.5k, Ailsa Lister £30k, Georgia Adams £30k, Millicent Taylor £27.5k, Georgia Elwiss £27.5k, Charley Phillips £15k, Samantha Bates £15k, plus Amu Surenkumar, Eve Jones, Sophie Munro.

**Women to watch:** The Rockets boast a powerful batting line‑up featuring Australian stars Beth Mooney and Ash Gardner, alongside England’s Nat Sciver‑Brunt and Sophia Dunkley. Off‑spin from Gardner and Georgia Adams, plus left‑arm wrist‑spin from Millicent Taylor and leg‑spin from Katie Levick, give them a varied bowling attack. **Men’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Tim David £350k, Tom Banton £225k, Ben Duckett £200k, Sam Billings £180k, Mitchell Santner £175k, Finn Allen £160k, Craig Overton £120k, Matt Henry £75k, Danny Briggs £70k, Lewis Gregory £55k, Dan Mousley £40k, Aneurin Donald £31k, Ben Mayes £31k, Louis Kimber £31k, plus Ben Raine, Ben Sanderson, Mohammad Amir, Calvin Harrison. **Men to watch:** Ben Duckett, fresh from a record 141 at Lord’s in an ODI, will look to translate that form into the Hundred.

Tim David provides massive six‑hitting power, while captain Sam Billings, who guided Oval Invincibles to three consecutive titles, brings strategic acumen. --- ### Fire (Cardiff) **Coaches:** Mike Hussey (men), Michael Klinger (women) **Captains:** Phil Salt (men), Sophie Devine (women) **Home ground:** Sophia Gardens **Women’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Sophie Devine £210k, Freya Kemp £120k, Em Arlott £110k, Georgia Wareham £100k, Georgia Voll £80k, Ella McCaughan £30k, Heather Graham £27.5k, Sarah Bryce £25k, Abi Norgrove £21k, Fi Morris £20k, Sophia Smale £20k, Grace Thompson £20k, Rhianna Southby £20k, Grace Potts £15k, plus Niamh Holland, Georgia Davis. **Women to watch:** All‑rounder Freya Kemp was instrumental in England’s run to the T20 World Cup final with her hard‑hitting and clever left‑arm seam.

Sophie Devine, a retired New Zealand international, remains a marquee name for her batting, leadership and occasional off‑spin. Wicket‑keeper Rhianna Southby is among the most agile behind the stumps. **Men’s squad (overseas stars in bold):** Phil Salt £450k, Jordan Cox £300k, Marco Jansen £250k, Joe Root £240k, Rachin Ravindra £140k, Chris Woakes £110k, Tom Kohler‑Cadmore £80k, Lockie Ferguson £75k, Matthew Short £75k, Asa Tribe £70k, Sam Cook £70k, Ben Kellaway £37.5k, Jafer Chohan £35k, Tom Aspinwall £31k, plus Jordan Clark, Dillon Pennington. **Men to watch:** Joe Root’s elegant technique continues to delight, while the explosive Phil Salt provides firepower at the top of the order.

Jordan Cox, last year’s Player of the Tournament, adds consistency, and Marco Jansen’s height and pace make him a lethal bowler. --- The tournament runs from 21 July to 16 August, with each day featuring a women’s double‑header followed by a men’s match at the same venue.

The opening fixtures see reigning women’s champions Sunrisers Leeds defending their title against MI London at The Oval (2.45 pm), while MI London begin their quest for a fourth straight men’s crown against Sunrisers Leeds later that evening (6.30 pm). Expect plenty of drama, high‑scoring fireworks, and emerging stars to keep fans glued to their screens.