The initial season of The Hundred seems to be getting as messy as it can before it finally begins as several cricketers have opted out of the unique 100 balls per innings tournament owing to injury, COVID-19 and national duties. While New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was forced to withdraw due to his injury, Birmingham Phoenix was forced to let go of Pakistan star bowler Shaheen Afridi due to national duties. It needs to be noted that initially, The Hundred was scheduled to have its inaugural tournament in 2020, but was pushed back for a year after several deliberations.
This has presented an opportunity for the likes of the Kiwi pair of Finn Allen and Adam Milne to replace Williamson and Afridi respectively. South Africa’s Imran Tahir has also signed up at Birmingham Phoenix after his impressive run in the Pakistan Super League. Among the domestic signing for the Edgbaston based side, Somerset's Will Smeed would replace injured Henry Brookes.
Former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis would replace Australian limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch as Northern Superchargers captain. The latter chose national duties above the inaugural addition of ECB’s Marquee tournament. du Plessis was excited to play alongside Ben Stokes and other cricket superstars.
"It is a real honour to lead Northern Superchargers in their first season. Playing alongside the likes of Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid and Chris Lynn alongside a number of talented young players will be really exciting. I can't wait to get going in a few weeks' time,” the Superchargers skipper was quoted as saying by Sky Cricket.
Among other changes, England seamer Ollie Robinson, who has been in the limelight for mostly wrong reasons has been signed by Manchester Originals to replace the retired Harry Gurney.
Another player benefiting from a good PSL is Kiwi Colin Munro, who has signed for Manchester Originals. Kiwis are actually represented in large numbers with Devon Conway, Jimmy Neesham already signed and now Glenn Phillips being added as a part-time replacement for Kieron Pollard at the Welsh Fire until the West Indian captain comes back from national duties.
Among the changes in The Hundred Women, South Africa’s Suné Luus joined Welsh Fire while Rachel Priest replaced Elyse Villani at Trent Rockets. Two other South Africa Women included in the tournament are Laura Wolvaardt and World number two T20I bowler Shabnim Ismail. While Wolvaardt replaced Australian wicketkeeper batter, Alyssa Healy, in the Superchargers women's team. Ismail replaced Rachael Haynes at Oval Invincibles.
Ismail was excited about being part of the innovative league and wished she could bowl the first ball of the tournament ever as she will be part of the first game of The Hundred Women when Oval Invinclbels take on Manchester Originals on July 21.
"I'm absolutely buzzing to take part in The Hundred. To play in London will be really special. In particular, I cannot wait to play in the opening fixture of the whole competition on July 21 at The Kia Oval, and maybe bowling the first-ever ball in The Hundred," she said.