England internationals Ben Stokes and Lauren Winfield have officially been selected for the Northern Superchargers men’s and women’s teams respectively.
Joining Ben Stokes on the men’s team will be fellow England World Cup winner Adil Rashid and destructive all-rounder David Willey. The players were selected in the first stage of The Hundred Men’s Draft, which culminates live on Sky, on 20th October.
The women’s team has also picked their first players, each announcing two of the centrally contracted England Women players in the first stage of the Player Selection Process. Playing alongside Lauren Winfield will also be bowler Linsey Smith.
Also revealed is the identity and kit for Northern Superchargers, which will feature Popchips as its official KP Snacks Team Partner.
FINAL NORTHERN SUPERCHARGERS PLAYER CONFIRMATIONS
• Men’s team: Ben Stokes (England Men’s red ball central contract pick), Adil Rashid and David Willey (Local Icons)
• Women’s team: Lauren Winfield and Linsey Smith (England Women’s central contract picks)
The men’s team, based at Emerald Headingley, will go head-to-head with stars from seven other teams in the competition, including England Test captain Joe Root – who has joined Trent Rockets – and England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan for London Spirit. Northern Superchargers will also face England’s star bowler of the summer Jofra Archer as part of Southern Brave, while England World Cup winners Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes will face them as part of Birmingham Phoenix.
The women’s team, which will be playing at York CC and South Northumberland CC, will face off against England captain Heather Knight, skipper for London Spirit. Anya Shrubsole – Knight’s vice-captain for England – will join up with Danni Wyatt at Southern Brave. Nat Sciver will join Trent Rockets, alongside Katherine Brunt, and Manchester Originals welcome Sophie Ecclestone, the ICC’s Emerging Player of the Year for 2018.
Ben Stokes said: “It’s great to be coming back to Leeds and playing at Emerald Headingley in The Hundred. Playing in front of the Headingley crowd is always an unbelievable experience and it’s brilliant to be part of this new format. It’s fair to say it’s been quite a summer, so The Hundred is coming at the perfect time to give me another great challenge.”
Lauren Winfield commented: “Women’s cricket has been going from strength to strength over the last few years and I’m delighted to be a part of the next chapter with Northern Superchargers. The Hundred means new teams, new kit, new team-mates, it’s all very exciting for everyone involved and I can’t wait to get out on the field next year and help contribute to the team’s success.”
Explaining his Local Icon picks, Men’s Head Coach Darren Lehmann said: “David Willey has that explosive batting that can destroy people and teams in the space of ten or 20 balls, which you will really need in this tournament. He can also bowl some really good left-arm new ball overs.
“Adil Rashid is obviously world class, a World Cup winner and the leg-spinner you need in this format to go a long way. Those two have signed with the Superchargers, which we’re really happy with.”
Sanjay Patel, managing director of The Hundred said: “We are thrilled to share the first players who will be starring in the men’s and women’s competitions for The Hundred next summer. Our ambition is to inspire the next generation to pick up a bat and ball and we hope that a fire will be ignited in young people as they see their sporting heroes play in The Hundred.”
The final stage of the The Hundred Draft is set to provide an historic first for British sport when it is staged on Sunday, October 20. It will be broadcast live on Sky One and Sky Sports, with extensive coverage across the BBC.
The five-week competition will be played at the height of summer, starting July 2020, featuring eight new city-based teams from Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff, Southampton and two in London (Lord’s and the Oval).