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Birmingham Phoenix
Coach Daniel Vettori Captain Moeen Ali
Home ground Edgbaston
Best domestic player After a wonder summer in 2020, Chris Woakes has been England’s invisible man – felled by Covid, bursting bubbles, rotation policy and logistics – this is his chance to claim a Twenty20 World Cup spot.
Best overseas player The 42-year-old with the sprightliest and most elongated celebration in cricket. Imran Tahir is wiley and attacking with a killer googly, a sprigg-ful of variations and bags of T20 franchise experience.
Surprise package Dom Sibley – can the owner of the seventh slowest Test century by an Englishman really shed his skin?
What’s the motto? “Rise with Birmingham Phoenix, and thrive together as one. Bigger, brighter and better united, this team is a celebration of the strength in diversity. Because different is good.” Odds 7-1
Fixtures: 23 July v London Spirit, Edgbaston 6.30pm; 25 July v Manchester Originals, Old Trafford 6pm; 30 July v Southern Brave, Rose Bowl 6.30pm; 1 August v Trent Rockets, Edgbaston 2.30pm; 4 August v Oval Invincibles, Edgbaston 7pm; 9 August v Welsh Fire, Edgbaston 6.30pm; 13 August v Trent Rockets, Trent Bridge 7pm; 17 August v Northern Superchargers, Headingley 6.30pm.
London Spirit
Coach Shane Warne Captain Eoin Morgan
Home ground Lord’s
Best domestic player If anyone deserves to be catapulted to national fame as the result of the Hundred, it is Mark Wood. Always smiling, devastatingly quick and with a point to prove. A Geordie in London.
Best overseas player Mohammad Amir returns to the scene of the spot-fixing scandal 11 years ago. He’s older, wiser, and though without his teenage zing and swing his left-arm pace can still be lethal.
Surprise package Shane Warne tried to persuade MS Dhoni to play for London Spirit, telling him he’d “find the money”. It is instead the more down-to-earth Adam Rossington who will don the gloves.
What’s the motto? “London Spirit is an iconic team for an iconic city, rooted in tradition and lighting the way to the future, with a unique ability to conjure something special.” Odds 7-1
Fixtures: 23 July v Birmingham Phoenix, Edgbaston 6.30pm; 25 July v Oval Invincibles, Lord’s 2.30pm; 29 July v Trent Rockets, Lord’s 6.30pm; 1 August v Southern Brave, Lord’s 6pm; 3 August v Northern Superchargers, Lord’s 6.30pm; 10 August v Manchester Originals, Old Trafford 6.30pm; 14 August v Oval Invincibles, The Oval 7pm; 18 August Welsh Fire v London Spirit, Sophia Gardens 6.30pm.
Manchester Originals
Coach Simon Katich Captain Jos Buttler
Home ground Old Trafford
Best domestic player Jos Buttler hasn’t spent much time at Old Trafford since moving up from Somerset, but he’s always loved the big T20 nights. A wise cricketing head and an off-the-scale innovator with the bat.
Best overseas player Facing 93mph balls from a man with an Errol Flynn moustache is no joke, and Lockie Ferguson, one of the stars of the 2019 World Cup, will be crucial to the Originals’ chances.
What’s the motto? “Manchester Originals. Pioneers. Revolutionaries. Celebrating a global city of firsts. Laughing in the face of limits. Raising the bar forever higher.” Odds 6-1
Surprise package The local (ish) bands Everything, Everything, The Lathums, Porij and The Orielles will grace Old Trafford for their first big outdoor gigs since lockdown.
Fixtures: 22 July v Oval Invincibles, The Oval 6.30pm; 25 July v Birmingham Phoenix, Old Trafford 6pm; 28 July v Northern Superchargers, Old Trafford 6.30pm; 31 July v Welsh Fire, Sophia Gardens 2.30pm; 5 August v Southern Brave, Old Trafford 7pm; 10 August v London Spirit, Old Trafford 6.30pm; 12 August v Northern Superchargers, Headingley 7pm; 15 August v Trent Rockets, Trent Bridge 7pm.
Northern Superchargers
Coach Darren Lehmann Captain Faf du Plessis
Home ground Headingley
Best domestic player Adil Rashid knows his T20 cricket, he even opened the bowling in India this year, snaffling Virat Kohli for a duck. The best leg-spinner in England and he won’t be siphoned away by the Tests.
Best overseas player The Afghan Mujeeb Ur Rahman, the first man to play international cricket born in the 21st century and a mystery spinner with an unbeatable mix of offies, leggies and googlies up his sleeve.
Surprise package Callum Parkinson, the twin brother of Lancashire and England’s Matt, has taken more wickets with his slow left arm than his brother in the Blast and Championship. Time for the triple crown?
What’s the motto? “Step aside for Northern Superchargers, a team whose drive and determination is matched only by their desire to win. Powered by positivity and people who get stuff done when every ball counts.” Odds 6-1
Fixtures: 24 July v Welsh Fire, Headingley 6pm; 26 July v Trent Rockets, Trent Bridge, 6.30pm; 28 July v Manchester Originals, Old Trafford 6.30pm; 31 July v Oval Invincibles, Headingley 6pm; 3 August v London Spirit, Lord’s 6.30pm; 7 August v Southern Brave, Rose Bowl 7pm; 12 August v Manchester Originals, Headingley, 7pm; 17 August v Birmingham Phoenix, Headingley 6.30pm.
Oval Invincibles
Coach Tom Moody Captain Sam Billings
Home ground The Oval
Best domestic player Lancashire’s favourite son Saqib Mahmood moves south to see if he can capitalise on his star turn in England’s one-day series against Pakistan. Swing, tick; seam, tick; 90mph, tick.
Best overseas player The leg-spinnner Sandeep Lamichhane is only 20 and has come a long way since he was first spotted in the remote Chitwan Province. The first Nepalese cricketer to play Indian Premier League, Caribbean Premier League and Big Bash League, he’s a globe-trotting star.
Surprise package Jordan Cox blasted 238 against Sussex last year, the highest first-class debut century for Kent, before being dropped the next match for accidentally breaking Covid protocol by posing for a photo. He won’t make that mistake again.
What’s the motto? “Belong to something bigger, with Oval Invincibles. Vibrant, expressive, and free to play their own way, this team leaves a lasting impression long after the last ball.” Odds 5-1
Fixtures: 22 July v Manchester Originals, The Oval 6.30pm; 25 July v London Spirit, Lord’s 2.30pm; 31 July v Northern Superchargers, Headingley 6pm; 2 August v Welsh Fire, The Oval 6.30pm; 4 August v Birmingham Phoenix, Edgbaston 7pm; 8 August v Trent Rockets, The Oval 7pm; 14 August v London Spirit, The Oval 7pm; 16 August: v Southern Brave, Rose Bowl 7pm.
Southern Brave
Coach Mahela Jayawardene Captain James Vince
Home ground Rose Bowl
Best domestic player Purveyor of extraordinary catches, alongside honk-a-tonk hitting and rapid bowling with a killer yorker, Chris Jordan is the complete package. Also a hugely experienced franchise and white-ball England player.
Best overseas player Colin de Grandhomme was a late replacement for Andre Russell but the magnificent mullet with the big heart is a more than worthy replacement, able to change games with bat and ball.
Surprise package Tymal Mills, a 90mph bowler, looking to win back his England place for the T20 World Cup after injury blighted his career.
What’s the motto? “Follow Southern Brave, and go boldly where others shy away. Endlessly curious, with an insatiable appetite for adventure, what’s over the horizon?” Odds 4-1
Fixtures: 24 July v Trent Rockets, Trent Bridge 2.30pm; 27 July v Welsh Fire, Sophia Gardens 6.30pm; 30 July v Birmingham Phoenix, Rose Bowl 6.30pm; 1 August v London Spirit, Lord’s 6pm; 5 August v Manchester Originals, Old Trafford 7pm; 7 August v Northern Superchargers, Rosebowl 7pm; 11 August v Welsh Fire, Rose Bowl 6.30pm; 16 August v Oval Invincibles, Rose Bowl 7pm.
Trent Rockets
Coach Andy Flower Captain Lewis Gregory
Home ground Trent Bridge
Best domestic player Joe Root may not be in Eoin Morgan’s sights as a T20 player, but he’d love to be. The perfect opportunity for England’s Test captain to shine in the few games for which he will be available.
Best overseas player Rashid Khan, probably the greatest T20 bowler of all and the first pick of the men’s draft. The Afghan T20 captain is a highly accurate flat and fizzing leg-spinner who dazzles with his variety and vast T20 experience.
Surprise package With an England comeback seemingly out of the question, the Hundred is the biggest stage Alex Hales will get in this country. We all know what he can do, but will Andy Flower make him fire?
What’s the motto? “Join Trent Rockets for the biggest party in the country. Everyone’s invited – so long as you don’t mind having the most fun. Volume up, ready for launch.” Odds 5-1
Fixtures: 24 July v Southern Brave, Trent Bridge 2.30pm; 26 July v Northern Superchargers, Trent Bridge 6.30pm; 29 July v London Spirit, Lord’s 6.30pm; 1 August v Birmingham Phoenix, Edgbaston 2.30pm; 6 August v Welsh Fire, Sophia Gardens 7pm; 8 August v Oval Invincibles, The Oval 7pm; 13 August v Birmingham Phoenix, Trent Bridge 7pm; 15 August v Manchester Originals, Trent Bridge 7pm.
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Welsh Fire
Coach Gary Kirsten Captain Jonny Bairstow (unless he’s with England)
Home ground Sophia Gardens
Best domestic player A free-hitting and unorthodox hitter, famously ticked off by John Cleese, Tom Banton contracted Covid during the Pakistan Super League and struggled. But fireworks in the Blast have put him back on England’s radar. Adores white-ball cricket.
Surprise package David Lloyd – no not that one. This David Lloyd hails from St Asaph and is the only Welshman in the pack. A batting all-rounder with the sort of medium pace that could befuddle on a turgid pitch.
Best overseas player Jimmy Neesham had a good laugh at the England and Wales Cricket Board’s expense when the Hundred was first announced, but his hard-hitting all-round skills are much sought after. Was stranded at the non-striker’s end for the last ball of the World Cup super over.
What’s the motto? “Spark the Welsh Fire. Burning bright with intense passion and relentless energy, their hunger will prove the haters wrong. Get ready to feel the heat.” Odds 11-2
Fixtures: 24 July v Northern Superchargers, Headingley 6pm; 27 July v Southern Brave, Sophia Gardens 6.30pm; 31 July v Manchester Originals, Sophia Gardens 2.30pm; 2 August v Oval Invincibles, The Oval 6.30pm; 6 August v Trent Rockets, Sophia Garden 7pm; 9 August v Birmingham Phoenix, Edgbaston 6.30pm; 11 August v Southern Brave, Rose Bowl 6.30pm; 18 August v London Spirit, Sophia Gardens 6.30pm.
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