In a thrilling turn of events, cricket enthusiasts will see Ben Stokes back in action in The Hundred this year.
Stokes, the dynamic England Men’s Test captain, is set to join Andrew Flintoff’s Northern Superchargers once the England Men v West Indies Men Test series concludes.
After missing last year’s competition, Stokes will light up the pitch for four games this season, promising fireworks and masterful cricketing skills.
Fans of the Northern Superchargers have every reason to be excited as they gear up to witness one of the game’s greatest all-rounders in action.
The batters from the England Men’s Test squad – Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith – will also be jumping into The Hundred fray right after the third Rothesay Test at Edgbaston, which starts on Friday, July 26. This influx of top-tier talent guarantees an exhilarating season ahead.
However, the participation of England’s bowlers will hinge on their workload and international commitments.
Notable names like Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, and Dillon Pennington are poised to make their appearances from the early rounds, while Chris Woakes is slated to join from Tuesday, August 6.
Adding to the excitement, players picked for the first Rothesay Test against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday, August 21, will be available for The Hundred’s Eliminator and Final, scheduled for August 17 and 18, respectively, depending on their roles and workload management.
For the women’s game, England’s players are set and ready for The Hundred, with their international duties wrapped up for the summer.
The competition also boasts a star-studded roster of replacements to cover for early-round international selections and injuries.
India’s Deepti Sharma, Australia’s Kim Garth, and New Zealand’s Tim Southee and Mitchell Santner are among the notable inclusions.
The Hundred returns on Tuesday, July 23, for its fourth season, merging top-tier cricket with high-energy entertainment through a partnership with BBC Music Introducing.
The season opener at Kia Oval will feature a performance by Cat Burns, while Zara Larsson will dazzle the crowd at the grand finale at Lord’s on August 18.
With ticket sales soaring, last year’s competition drew over 500,000 attendees, with a record 310,000 for the women’s matches alone.
The blend of high-quality sport and entertainment attracted 41% of ticket sales to families, 23% to juniors, and 30% to women, highlighting the event’s broad appeal.
Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports and BBC’s broadcast and digital channels throughout the competition.
Player Availability and Replacements for The Hundred
Birmingham Phoenix
- Tim Southee (New Zealand) replaces Naseem Shah
- Louis Kimber (Leicestershire CCC) replaces Will Smeed
- Chris Woakes (available from August 6)
- Ben Duckett (available after the third Rothesay Test)
- Jamie Smith (available after the third Rothesay Test)
London Spirit
- Deepti Sharma (India) replaces Grace Harris
- Erin Burns (Australia) replaces Deepti Sharma during international duty
- Zak Crawley (available after the third Rothesay Test)
- Ollie Pope (available after the third Rothesay Test)
- Jimmy Neesham (New Zealand) replaces Zak Crawley during international duty
- Matthew Taylor (Gloucestershire CCC) replaces Ollie Pope during international duty
Manchester Originals
- Bethan Ellis (Central Sparks) replaces Mahika Gaur
- Kim Garth (Australia) replaces Sophie Molineux
Northern Superchargers
- Mitchell Santner (New Zealand) replaces Daniel Sams
- Harry Brook (available after the third Rothesay Test)
- Ben Stokes (available for four games after the third Rothesay Test)
- Dillon Pennington (first appearance TBC)
- Matthew Potts (first appearance TBC)
Oval Invincibles
- Harrison Ward (Sussex CCC) replaces Gus Atkinson during international duty
- Mohammad Amir (Pakistan) replaces Spencer Johnson for the first game
- Gus Atkinson (first appearance TBC)
Trent Rockets
- Joe Root (available after the third Rothesay Test)
- Riley Meredith (Australia) replaces Joe Root during international duty
Welsh Fire
- Beth Langston (Northern Diamonds) replaces Claire Nicholas
With such an array of talent and thrilling matches on the horizon, The Hundred promises another unforgettable season, blending the best of cricket and entertainment for fans across the globe.