The Hundred returns: Will perennial strugglers thrive with fresh start?

The sixth edition of the men’s Hundred gets underway this evening at the Kia Oval as holders MI London host SunRisers Leeds to launch a significant new era in English franchise cricket after stakes in all eight sides were sold to private investors.

The two worst-performing franchises will be hoping a new dawn brings a change of fortunes, whilst individual players will be hoping to shine on the big stage.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed cricket news you need, subscribe to The Cricket Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day

FOLLOW OUR LIVE SCORES CENTRE

Are Welsh Fire now equipped to challenge?

Across five seasons of the Hundred to date, Welsh Fire are the only men’s side yet to progress to the play-offs, possessing the lowest win rate of any team across combined league phases at 27.5%.

The Cardiff-based franchise finished bottom of the table last year with just two victories, the fourth time they have finished 6th or lower.

There is perhaps cause for optimism this time around though following some big-money spending, particularly to strengthen the batting department.

Phil Salt, the leading run-scorer in the competition’s history, was a statement signing as new captain, whilst Joe Root and 2025 MVP Jordan Cox were significant investments in the inaugural auction.

Salt, along with Glamorgan duo Asa Tribe and Ben Kellaway, also provide a strong Welsh identity that had been distinctly lacking in previous iterations.

They are now part-owned by tech billionaire Sanjay Govil, whose Major League Cricket franchise Washington Freedom have made three consecutive finals.

What about London Spirit?

Meanwhile, London Spirit have not fared much better – a third-placed finish in 2022 aside, they have finished in the bottom two in each of the other four seasons.

A new-look batting order has been assembled with plenty of firepower and experience, including Jonny Bairstow and T20 Blast player of the tournament Liam Livingstone.

There is also an exciting crop of young talents with South Africa duo Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis, as well as England prospects James Rew and James Coles, the latter being the most expensive signing at the auction.

Vitality Blast-winning captain David Willey is now with his fourth Hundred franchise and will spearhead the bowling attack with Kiwi quick Adam Milne, the most productive overseas bowler in the competition’s history with 37 wickets at Birmingham Phoenix previously.

Who will England have their eye on?

James Coles and Sonny Baker

After receiving criticism for taking time off and missing the first block of the County Championship ahead of the Test summer, Brendon McCullum has pledged to remain in England in order to keep tabs on the Hundred.

All-rounder James Coles is firmly in the England picture after earning his maiden senior call-up to the T20I and ODI squads this summer, though did not get the opportunity to debut.

The 22-year-old will play at Lord’s for London Spirit and will have to handle the weight of expectation on his shoulders from the auction-record £390,000 price tag that secured his services.

Fast bowler Sonny Baker has now made his England debut in all three formats but also did not feature in the recent white-ball series against India.

Baker shone by becoming the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the T20 Blast final on Saturday, having also claimed a five-fer in Hampshire’s quarter-final win, and will return to the Manchester franchise where he made a strong impression last year alongside fellow England quick Josh Tongue.

Jafer Chohan and Ben McKinney

Leg-spinner Jafer Chohan has been on the radar for a few years now but will be hoping for a breakthrough campaign to put his name in the frame as Adil Rashid’s eventual successor.

The 24-year-old SACA graduate took 16 wickets in Yorkshire’s T20 Blast season at an economy rate of 7.69 and will be eyeing more opportunities with Welsh Fire after just three appearances with London Spirit.

In terms of a top-order batter, left-handed Ben McKinney could be one to watch.

The 21-year-old had been touted as next in line for England Test opener, but he has also showed glimpses of his white-ball ability in the T20 Blast for Durham this season and is one of a number of exciting young domestic batters at Southern Brave.

Who is looking like a potential bargain buy?

Aneurin Donald and Jason Roy

It is almost a case of how can Trent Rockets afford to leave out destructive opener Aneurin Donald?

Bought at base price for cover, Donald’s ridiculous T20 Blast numbers make him a near must selection in a top order that includes Finn Allen, Ben Duckett and Tom Banton.

The Derbyshire captain scored 489 runs at a staggering 230 strike rate in a league of his own, the second successive campaign he surpassed 400 runs and exceeded a 200 strike rate, though his minimal past exposure in the Hundred for Birmingham Phoenix yielded no returns.

Former England international Jason Roy was also picked up at base price by MI London at his home ground after a few lean years of form but enjoyed his best return in a T20 Blast campaign for ten years with 473 runs to provide a strong top order alongside Will Jacks and James Vince.

Aneurin Donald’s 37 sixes in the most recent T20 Blast campaign was the most by any better, only Liam Livingstone also had more than 30.
PICTURE: Alamy

Liam Patterson-White, Will Smeed and Matt Short

Nottinghamshire all-rounder Liam Patterson-White was a base price buy for SunRisers Leeds and could form a strong spin partnership with Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed as the only two recognised slow bowlers in the squad.

The 27-year-old, who could also be in the England conversation in the near future, finished the recent T20 Blast campaign with an average of 17.66 and economy rate 7.31.

Will Smeed is back at Birmingham Phoenix once again and the opener’s price of £55,000 looks a very good one, ending the T20 Blast in strong form for Somerset with a tournament average of 39.40 and strike rate at 166.64.

From an overseas perspective, Matt Short may have not got too much attention when he was bought by Welsh Fire for £70,000 but the Australian arrives fresh from scoring 215 runs unbeaten across his previous two Major League Cricket innings and also recorded the second-highest number of wickets across the competition.

READ MORE: The Hundred Men preview – Trent Rockets the team to beat in new-look format for 2026