Birmingham Phoenix add firepower with Vitality Wildcard picks

Birmingham Phoenix have added four players to their respective squads through The Hundred’s Vitality Wildcard Draft, strengthening both the men’s and women’s teams ahead of the 2026 edition of the tournament.

Phoenix Men captured the additions of right arm quick Tom Helm and destructive batter Sean Dickson, while Phoenix Women made the statement signing of Pakistan captain and bowling all-rounder Fatima Sana, as well as exciting prospect and Warwickshire Bears all-rounder Mary Taylor.

With all eight franchises drafting twice, Phoenix Women were the first team to pick and selected 21-year-old Taylor, who has contributed with both bat and ball in her first season with Warwickshire Bears.

Sana, who is currently leading Pakistan’s team in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, was Phoenix Women’s second and final draft pick, and becomes the first woman from Pakistan to sign for a franchise in The Hundred.

Quality

Bringing a wealth of experience and quality, Sana has represented her country 60 times in T20 internationals to date, averaging 26 with the ball and 35 with the bat.

Sana replaces Lucy Hamilton as one of the Phoenix’s overseas players, with Hamilton withdrawn after receiving a central contract by Australia.

Phoenix Men were the fifth team to pick in the men’s draft and bolstered their bowling unit with the addition of Helm, who returns to the Phoenix having played for the franchise across four seasons from 2021 to 2024.

The 32-year-old took 14 wickets for the Phoenix in the 2022 edition of The Hundred, and will be back in black and coral after impressing in last year’s Vitality Blast for Middlesex where he took 20 wickets.

Dickson was the final player selected by the Phoenix, with a proven track-record in short-form cricket.

A big game player, Dickson top-scored in both the semi-final and final of the Vitality Blast in 2023 to help Somerset lift the title, and continued his run-scoring in last year’s T20 tournament, racking up over 400 runs.

Experience

Birmingham Phoenix Performance Director, James Thomas, said: Birmingham Phoenix Performance Director James Thomas said: “Following the auction, we’ve reviewed our squads and identified the key skill sets and experience that would add extra strength and versatility in our squads.

“We’re delighted with the four additions we’ve made today and are confident each of them can make a real impact when the tournament gets under way.

“On the men’s side, Tom Helm gives us experienced, high-quality pace bowling cover, while Sean Dickson is one of the most destructive white-ball batters in the domestic game. Both players add genuine strength in depth at a crucial point in our squad-building.

“In the women’s team, signing Fatima Sana is a real statement of intent.

“She is Pakistan’s captain, an international-class pace bowler and a brilliant replacement for Lucy Hamilton, who is unavailable due to her Australia commitments.

“Mary Taylor is an exciting addition too, she’s a homegrown talent with strong ties to Edgbaston through her work with Warwickshire Bears, and this is a fantastic opportunity for her to develop at the highest level of the women’s franchise game.”

The Hundred gets underway on Friday 24 July, with both Phoenix teams in action at Edgbaston Stadium against Trent Rockets.

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