The first-ever women’s Hundred drafts took place on Thursday evening (March 23), alongside the men’s event. A total of 34 women cricketers were picked in the draft. For the first time, a women’s Hundred drafts was held as the organizers introduced it so that it can lead to better parity across the teams after the Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave contested each of the first two finals. The sequence followed in the women’s draft was: Welsh Fire, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Birmingham Phoenix, Trent Rockets, Southern Brave, and Oval Invincibles.
The teams were limited to retaining only four of their players. Unlike other teams, the Welsh Fire retained only three players. No women’s team can sign more than three England-contracted players and three overseas players. Also, teams were not allowed to have more than eight players by the end of the inaugural draft.
Having already chosen which players to retain, the eight teams had the opportunity to fill out their squad from the remaining registered players who have not yet been picked up. fill out their roster to eight players, with the remaining seven filled on an open-market basis, which will take place between March and June 2023. It is similar to that which has previously been used for the women’s recruitment process.
From India, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana are the only two players who will be taking part in the upcoming edition of the Women’s Hundred to be played later this year. Harmanpreet will play for Trent Rockets in this year’s Hundred, whole Smriti was retained by the Southern Brave before the draft took place.
The Hundred 2023: Full Squad Lists
1. Welsh Fire
Retained: Tammy Beaumont, Hayley Matthews
Draft picks: Sophia Dunkley, Shabnim Ismail, Georgia Elwiss, Freya Davies, Laura Harris, Alex Hartley
2. London Spirit
Retained: Heather Knight, Amelia Kerr, Charlie Dean, Dani Gibson
Draft picks: Grace Harris, Sarah Glenn, Sophie Munro, Sophie Luff
3. Manchester Originals
Retained: Sophie Ecclestone, Deandra Dottin, Emma Lamb, Ellie Threlkeld
Draft picks: Laura Wolvaardt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Kathryn Bryce, Katie George
4. Birmingham Phoenix
Retained: Amy Jones, Ellyse Perry, Issy Wong, Emily Arlott
Draft picks: Sophie Devine (RTM), Hannah Baker, Eve Jones, Katie Levick
5. Trent Rockets
Retained: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Alana King, Bryony Smith
Draft picks: Harmanpreet Kaur, Lizelle Lee, Kirstie Gordon, Grace Potts
6. Southern Brave
Retained: Smriti Mandhana, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Freya Kemp
Draft picks: Danni Wyatt (RTM), Anya Shrubsole, Chloe Tryon, Maitlan Brown
7. Oval Invincibles
Retained: Marizanne Kapp, Alice Capsey, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Tash Farrant
Draft picks: Suzie Bates, Dane van Niekerk, Mady Villiers, Paige Scholfield
8. Northern Superchargers
Retained: Alyssa Healy, Linsey Smith, Hollie Armitage, Beth Heath
Draft picks: Kate Cross, Georgia Wareham, Heather Graham, Alice Davidson-Richards (RTM)
