David Warner is set to make his debut in The Hundred, joining the London Spirit after being selected in the latest draft for the competition. This marks a new chapter in the career of the former Australian batter, who will be reunited with his ex-coach Justin Langer. However, Warner’s deal does not place him in the top salary bracket for the men’s tournament, as he will earn £120,000, while several other players such as Jamie Overton, Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad, and David Willey secured £200,000 contracts.
The draft saw a few notable absences, including England’s Jimmy Anderson, who failed to find a spot despite his extensive international experience. Anderson, who has signed a one-year contract with Lancashire for the County Championship and T20 Blast, was left unsold as the men’s draft concluded. Jason Roy, another seasoned international player, was similarly ignored for the second year running. In contrast, several New Zealand players were in high demand during the draft, with the country leading the overseas player pool with nine representatives. Australia followed closely with eight players selected.
Among the key signings were Rachin Ravindra, who was named player of the tournament at the Champions Trophy, securing a spot with Manchester Originals for £120,000, and Lockie Ferguson, who joined the Rockets, also at £120,000. Other major signings included Zak Crawley, who was picked up by Northern Superchargers, and Reece Topley, who joined Southern Brave. The Brave also bolstered their squad with England’s fast bowlers Jofra Archer, Tymal Mills, Chris Jordan, and Craig Overton.
In terms of promising young talent, the draft included Derbyshire’s 17-year-old fast bowler Harry Moore, who secured a £41,500 deal with Birmingham Phoenix despite not yet making his T20 debut. Another rising star, Rehan Ahmed, England’s leg-spin talent, was selected by the Rockets to further strengthen their squad.
While the men’s competition grabbed attention with high-profile names and international talent, the women’s draft also saw a few key moves. One notable signing was Georgia Voll, an Australian opener who recently made waves with a record-breaking 99 in the Women’s Premier League. Voll was drafted by Birmingham Phoenix for £65,000, joining fellow Australians Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt in a strong squad. Alyssa Healy, another big-name Australian cricketer, went unsold after being listed with a reserve price of £50,000.
The draft also saw a few international stars secure spots. Sophie Devine, who captained New Zealand to victory in the T20 World Cup, joined Southern Brave, while Deandra Dottin of the West Indies and Chloe Tryon of South Africa signed with Manchester Originals and Southern Brave, respectively. The women’s competition will also see the return of English players such as Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley, and Paige Scholfield to their former teams, with Knight and Dunkley both securing £65,000 contracts.
The latest draft has set the stage for a thrilling edition of The Hundred, with a mix of established international stars and emerging young talent. As the competition grows, fans will be eager to see how the new signings perform in what promises to be an exciting summer of cricket.
