Welsh Fireplace search to spark revival within the Hundred with string of star signings, however lose Ben Duckett to Birmingham Phoenix within the draft… whereas Laurie Evans rejoins Manchester Originals after his doping ban was lifted
- The Fireplace misplaced all eight matches final summer time after ending second backside in 2021
- England batter Duckett joins Birmingham Phoenix for a top-bracket £125,000
- Evans picked up for £100,000 by Manchester Originals after his ban was lifted
Welsh Fireplace, whipping boys of the lads’s Hundred, have thrown down the gauntlet forward of the August match with a string of big-name signings at this yr’s draft.
Regardless of dropping Ben Duckett to Birmingham Phoenix for a top-bracket £125,000, the Fireplace – who can be coached by Australian Check legend Mike Hussey – picked up England all-rounder David Willey (£125,000), in addition to Pakistan quick bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi (£100,000) and Haris Rauf (£60,000).
And their batting has been bolstered by the signings of Somerset’s Tom Abell (£125,000) and the hard-hitting New Zealander Glenn Phillips (£75,000).
Duckett had already made it clear he wished to depart Welsh Fireplace, who misplaced all eight of their matches final summer time, having completed second-bottom within the Hundred’s first version in 2021.
‘It was time for a recent begin after solely successful a few video games in two years,’ he stated. ‘I want them one of the best, however three years in your profession is a very long time.’
Welsh Fireplace picked up David Willey (above) and Shaheen Shah Afridi within the Hundred draft
Laurie Evans was freed to play following an anti-doping panel enchantment listening to on Tuesday
Laurie Evans was picked up for £100,000 by Manchester Originals after his ban for a doping offence was quickly lifted earlier within the week.
Amongst batters who scored no less than 120 runs in final yr’s competitors, Evans – then enjoying for Oval Invincibles – had the very best strike-rate: almost 185.
Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, in the meantime, was signed for £125,000 by London Spirit, the place he’ll be a part of his compatriot Trevor Bayliss, the previous England coach.
Within the girls’s Hundred, rising England star Sophia Dunkley moved from Southern Courageous to Welsh Fireplace, who – like their male counterparts – completed backside in 2022. She was signed for £31,250, the very best price within the girls’s occasion.
England seamer Kate Cross moved from the Originals to Northern Superchargers on the opposite facet of the Pennines, whereas Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur joined Trent Rockets. Each had been within the prime bracket.
