The eight new women’s teams in The Hundred each announced the signing of a marquee player live from The Hundred Draft.

Australia skipper Meg Lanning will join her international coach Matthew Mott at Welsh Fire, while South Africa’s Lizelle Lee will head to Manchester Originals. England’s Tammy Beaumont will join her international captain Heather Knight at London Spirit – the pair last played together at Lord’s when England lifted the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017. 

Then it’s Birmingham Phoenix for hard-hitting New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine, Southern Brave for her Kiwi compatriot Suzie Bates and South London’s Oval Invincibles for South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk.

England duo Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt, who were Trent Rockets’ first two picks on October 3, will have young Australia spinner Sophie Molineux joining them. Then Alyssa Healy – who smashed a record-breaking 148 against the West Indies earlier this month – is heading to Northern Superchargers.

Team Head Coaches have until May 31 to finalise their 15-strong squads.

“It’s hugely exciting to be joining Heather Knight and Freya Davies at London Spirit, and I look forward to when we will know our full squad. The competition is obviously getting closer and now we know the names, the kit and the players it’s all starting to feel real. There’s so much world-class talent across both competitions and we are keen to get started,” Tammy Beaumont.

The five-week competition will be played at the height of summer, starting July 2020, featuring eight new city-based teams; Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Trent Rockets, Birmingham Phoenix, Welsh Fire, Southern Brave, London Spirit & Oval Invincibles. 

“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining up with Matthew Mott at Welsh Fire. We obviously know each other really well from working together for Australia and hopefully, that can give us an edge. It’s really exciting to see the women’s squads begin to take shape, and hopefully, alongside the men’s players who joined up in tonight’s draft we can give Welsh Fire a strong chance in the first season of The Hundred,” added Meg Lanning.

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