The likes of Aaron Finch, Nicholas Pooran, Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning have pulled out of the inaugural edition of The Hundred.
In the last few weeks, a number of overseas players have decided to skip the Hundred because of the international calendar coinciding with the tournament. It could also be due to the bubble life, quarantine rules and travel complications.
There have been 21 players named as replacements, and the ECB confirmed the same on Friday. Oval Invincibles and London Spirit have the least number of changes to their respective squads. The other teams have had a number of changes.
The Australian players have pulled out the most. The Australian women’s cricketing season starts on September 19, and with a 14-day mandatory quarantine on arrival in Australia, it would leave them with very less preparation time and rest ahead of the multi-format series against India. 10 Australian women’s cricketers have withdrawn, and Ellyse Perry is the only Australian player who initially signed up for the league and has decided to feature in the tournament.
Laura Kimmince (Northern Superchargers), Erin Burns (Birmingham Phoenix) and Amanda-Jade Wellington (Southern Brave), who are the regular names in the Women’s Big Bash League have been announced as the replacements.
Meanwhile, in the men’s contingent, Josh Inglis has been named as a replacement player for London Spirit, while Finch and Adam Zampa have decided to skip the tournament.
Colin Munro (Manchester Originals), Finn Allen (Birmingham Phoenix), Glenn Phillips (Welsh Fire) until Kieron Pollard arrives, Adam Milne (Birmingham Phoenix), and James Neesham (Welsh Fire) are the New Zealand players who will fill in as the replacement players.
Four domestic players – Jordan Thompson (Northern Superchargers), Ollie Robinson and Sam Hain (both Manchester Originals) and Will Smeed (Birmingham Phoenix) have come in to replace the injured players.
In addition to this, each franchise will make one additional signing in the wildcard draft. According to ESPNCricinfo, England domestic cricketers like Jake Lintott, Dillon Pennington, Samuel Cook and Freddie Klaassen are likely to be the ones who will be in the fray to be signed up.
The inaugural edition of The Hundred starts on July 21. The final will be played on August 21.
