After a summer of Ashes fever, August has been set aside for the third edition of The Hundred, with the Men’s and Women’s competitions taking centre stage in the third edition of the tournament.
- Oval Invincibles to win the Men’s Hundred
- Southern Brave to win the Women’s Hundred
Invincibles Primed For A Big Season
The Men’s Hundred has been a competitive affair in both of its previous editions, demonstrated by the fact that winners of the inaugural title, Southern Brave, trailed home in seventh in the following season.
The draft system, which gives the team that finished last in the previous year the first pick of the pool of players up for grabs for the new campaign, means that teams can make a big leap forward between seasons.
The closeness of the teams in the betting demonstrates how competitive the field is and how difficult it is to write off any of the teams involved.
Trent Rockets are the defending champions and have retained the core of their squad, but the unpredictable nature of the competition means a follow-up victory is unlikely.
Oval Invincibles have finished mid-table in the previous editions of this tournament but look to have a solid chance of taking the title this time around.
They have retained much of their Surrey-based core such as Sunil Narine, Jason Roy and Sam and Tom Curran.
Surrey recently reached the semi-finals of the T20 Blast, in which they were edged by Somerset, who went on to lift the trophy. That will stand the players involved in good stead for this tournament and the Invincibles have also added an impressive array of youngsters.
Tawanda Muyeye, aged 22, has been the talk of English cricket after impressing with Kent and 20-year-old Pakistani fast bowler Ihsanullah will be one of the quickest at this year’s tournament.
Adam Zampa and Heinrich Klaasen help make up an impressive overseas contingent and the Invincibles squad looks sufficiently well balanced to cause maximum damage with a good mix of big-hitting, death bowling and a pair of tricky spinners.
OVAL INVINCIBLES TO WIN MEN'S HUNDRED
Brave To Go One Better
Southern Brave have been beaten in the final of the Women’s Hundred in both of the first two editions but this could be the year that they get revenge on their rivals.
Danni Wyatt goes into the tournament in top form after impressing in the Ashes and will be joined at the head of the batting line-up by Indian superstar Smriti Mandhana.
Exciting youngster Freya Kemp should have a major say with bat and ball, while Lauren Bell and Anya Shrubshoe should take their fair share of wickets.
Oval Invincibles have lost Shabnim Ismail to Welsh Fire and will be without Tash Farrant through injury and so they look more opposable than last season.
Take the Brave to eventually get revenge for back-to-back final defeats and win their first Women’s Hundred title.
SOUTHERN BRAVE TO WIN WOMEN'S HUNDRED
