A new season brings dynamics, and the teams will look to carry out their plans more successfully and overcome the challenges. At this time, it would be difficult to predict a winner, but by looking at the makeup of the eight sides, you might be able to make your predictions for The Hundred -
# Southern Brave Women
From winning the trophy in 2023 to finishing at the bottom of the points table in 2024, the Southern Brave Women have seen it all. The side will look to put the poor show of the last season behind them, where they managed only one win in eight games. Georgia Adams stays as captain, and she and her players will look to put up a good show. The team has a power-packed squad, and they will look for a good show with the bat from Laura Wolvaardt, Maia Boucher, and Danielle Wyatt. Lauren Bell, Chole Tryon, Sophie Devine, and Josie Groves make it a good bowling attack. They have the resources to go the distance in this tournament.
Squad – Georgia Adams (c), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Laura Wolvaardt, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Sophie Devine, Freya Kemp, Chloe Tryon, Mady Villiers, Josie Groves, Rhianna Southby, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Phoebe Graham, Phoebe Turner, Amara Carr
# Northern Superchargers Women
The Northern Superchargers Women didn't have a great tournament last year. While they did well in 2023 to reach the final, 2024 was all about missed opportunities. They let themselves down with poor form and inconsistency. Hollie Armitage would like to see her players deliver consistently this season and aim for their first title. Phoebe Litchfield, Bess Heath, and Hollie Armitage will be key batters for the team, and they must do well. Kate Cross and Georgia Wareham are experienced bowlers, and the side will look to put on a good show as they have less firepower in the batting compared to some of their opponents.
Squad - Hollie Armitage (c), Annabel Sutherland, Phoebe Litchfield, Kate Cross, Georgia Wareham, Linsey Smith, Bess Heath, Alice Davidson-Richards, Hollie Armitage, Grace Potts, Grace Ballinger, Lucy Higham, Davina Perrin, Ella Claridge, Katherine Fraser, Sophia Turner
# Oval Invincibles Women
They won the tournament in its first two editions, but since then, they have been seeking their third title. 2024 was a good season for the team, where they finished second on the points table in the league stage but lost in the Eliminator against the London Spirit Women. They have been the most consistent team in the tournament, and Lauren Winfield-Hill brings a lot of energy to the team as the captain. They have a strong batting lineup with Meg Lanning, Alice Capsey, and Lauren Winfield-Hill. The all-rounders have won games for them in the past, and they will need good performances from Marizanne Kapp, Paige Scholfield, and Amanda-Jade Wellington. They will be one of the teams to watch out for this year.
Squad - Lauren Winfield-Hill (c), Paige Scholfield, Marizanne Kapp, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Alice Capsey, Meg Lanning, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Tash Farrant, Phoebe Franklin, Sophia Smale, Kalea Moore, Jo Gardner, Rachel Slater, Daisy Gibb, Rebecca Odgers
# Trent Rockets Women
They finished fourth on the points table last season and failed to qualify for the second round. The side has struggled to win crunch games and has never come close to winning the title. Ashleigh Gardner takes over the captaincy from Nat Sciver-Brunt, and she must get the best out of her players this season. They are one of the dark horses, quite naturally, with their strong batting lineup featuring players like Nat Sciver-Brunt, Ashleigh Gardner, and Heather Graham. Alana King and Kirstie Gordon are skilled bowlers in this format and will look to perform well in this tournament as the team aims to secure the trophy in its cabinet.
Squad - Ashleigh Gardner (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alana King, Heather Graham, Jodi Grewcock, Bryony Smith, Kirstie Gordon, Grace Scrivens, Emma Jones, Alexa Stonehouse, Ellie Threlkeld, Natasha Wraith, Cassidy McCarthy, Grace Thompson, Sophie Morris
# Manchester Originals Women
Sophie Ecclestone's side couldn't get its act together last year and finished fifth on the points table. They won only three games and failed to reach the Eliminator. The Originals skipper will look to make a positive start this year. She will look for a good show with the bat from experienced players like Amelia Kerr, Beth Mooney, and Deandra Dottin. The bowling attack is strong, and the side would like a good show from Lauren Filer and Sophie Ecclestone to take on the stronger sides in the tournament. Their batting strength puts them in a strong position this year, but the side will need to get the best out of its bowling attack.
Squad – Sophie Ecclestone (c), Amelia Kerr, Deandra Dottin, Beth Mooney, Seren Smale, Lauren Filer, Evelyn Jones, Mahika Gaur, Fi Morris, Kathryn Bryce, Ella McCaughan, Danielle Gregory, Alice Monaghan, Esmae Macgregor, Darcey Carter
# Welsh Fire Women
Tammy Beaumont and her players must put the disappointments of the previous season behind them. It was a good season for them, where they dominated in the league stage but failed to defeat the London Spirit Women in the final. They are one of the strongest sides in terms of team composition. Sophia Dunkley, Hayley Matthews, and Tammy Beaumont add strength to the batting lineup, and they will look to do well. Freya Davies, Jess Jonassen, and Shabnim Ismail are experienced bowlers and can put batters under pressure. They will threaten other teams and have the firepower to win the title.
Squad - Tammy Beaumont (c), Sophia Dunkley, Hayley Matthews, Jess Jonassen, Sarah Bryce, Shabnim Ismail, Freya Davies, Georgia Elwiss, Katie George, Georgia Davis, Katie Levick, Emily Windsor, Beth Langston, Charley Phillips, Alex Griffiths
# Birmingham Phoenix Women
Ellyse Perry would like to see her side break away from the disastrous show of the last two years. They finished seventh on the points table, winning only three out of their eight games. The side has good players, and they will expect a good show with the bat from Georgia Voll, Amy Jones, and Marie Kelly. On the bowling front, the side will expect good shows from Issy Wong, Megan Schutt, and Ellyse Perry. They must punch above their weight to defeat the stronger teams in the tournament and overcome their inconsistency. They have started the last two seasons poorly, and a good start will be important for them to erase the memories of the last two years.
Squad - Ellyse Perry (c), Georgia Voll, Emma Lamb, Amy Jones, Megan Schutt, Emily Arlott, Charis Pavely, Hannah Baker, Georgie Boyce, Sterre Kalis, Marie Kelly, Bethan Ellis, Ailsa Lister, Mary Taylor, Phoebe Brett
# London Spirit Women
The London Spirit Women are the defending champions. They picked form at the right time and defeated Welsh Fire Women in the final. Charlie Dean takes over as the skipper for this season from Heather Knight, and she leads one of the strongest teams in the tournament. The side will look to relive the magic of the last season and add another jewel to their crown. The side will expect a good show with the bat from Knight, Cordelia Griffith, and Grace Harris. The bowling attack is strong for the team, and they expect Sarah Glenn, Tara Norris, Deepti Sharma, and Charlie Dean to deliver consistently good performances. They will look to play well as a unit and do well.
Squad - Charlie Dean (c), Heather Knight, Grace Harris, Sarah Glenn, Danielle Gibson, Deepti Sharma, Eva Gray, Georgia Redmayne, Issy Wong, Cordelia Griffith, Tara Norris, Sophie Munro, Rebecca Tyson, Abi Norgrove, Kate Coppack
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Women's cricket has found the limelight it deserves in the last few years. While women's cricket may still be way behind men's cricket in terms of popularity and eyeballs the men's game attracts, it is a work in progress. Nothing explains this better than the mushrooming of several franchise leagues worldwide. We now have the Women's BBL in Australia, the Women's Premier League in India, and the Women's CPL in the West Indies.
