Zak Crawley’s Challenging Winter Continues
Zak Crawley, the English cricketer, has faced another setback in a series of difficult moments this winter, as he lost his central contract with London Spirit in the Hundred. Crawley had already missed the 2024 edition of the tournament due to a broken finger sustained in England’s Test series against West Indies. His return to form has been anything but smooth, particularly after scoring just 113 runs in his next 10 innings following a promising 78 in his first Test back in Multan. His performance in New Zealand was particularly discouraging, where he was dismissed by Matt Henry in all six innings. Hoping to turn things around, Crawley traveled to South Africa, but his efforts were met with disappointment when he was dropped by his SA20 franchise, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, after scoring only 88 runs in eight innings. Now, with the loss of his central contract, Crawley is likely to enter the draft, where Justin Langer, the new coach of London Spirit, is eyeing Jamie Smith for the position instead.
The ECB’s Central Contract Draft
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will hold a mini ‘central contract draft’ later this week, following the squad reshuffles by London Spirit and Welsh Fire. Each men’s and women’s team has the opportunity to re-sign up to 10 players from last summer’s squad. Spirit and Fire have each identified new players to fill their central contract spots, with Smith and Chris Woakes being their respective choices. Notably, Zak Crawley, Mark Wood, and Rehan Ahmed are now available for selection at this stage. Despite these changes, Welsh Fire has retained several top-order batting options, including Jonny Bairstow, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and their new signing, Steven Smith.
Leadership Changes and Retentions
London Spirit’s decision to release Dan Lawrence and appoint Kane Williamson as their new captain reflects a significant shift in their strategy. Lawrence had led the team to three wins in the last two seasons, but the team is looking to capitalize on Williamson’s leadership and experience. Ollie Pope, Crawley’s England teammate, remains with the team, adding stability to their batting lineup. In the women’s Hundred, Spirit has made a bold move by prioritizing the retention of Australia’s Grace Harris, who missed last year due to injury, over her compatriot and former captain, Meg Lanning. Lanning has since moved to Oval Invincibles, joining her Delhi Capitals coach, Jonathan Batty, in what could be a formidable partnership.
Overhauls and Surprises in Men’s Hundred
The men’s Hundred has seen several teams making significant changes to their rosters. One of the most surprising moves was Jamie Overton’s decision to leave Manchester Originals. Initially expected to stay on a £200,000 contract, Overton opted to depart when Originals offered him a reduced £120,000 to keep a top-end spot free for an overseas player. This means Overton, along with other leading domestic players like Reece Topley and David Willey, will be available during the draft on March 12. London Spirit and Trent Rockets are among the teams likely to show interest in Overton, given his recent performances and potential impact.
Major Retention and Signing Moves
The three teams that reached the knockout stages last year—Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, and Birmingham Phoenix—have retained the maximum 10 players, solidifying their positions ahead of the 2025 season. Invincibles have brought in Rashid Khan, Southern Brave has signed Faf du Plessis, and Birmingham Phoenix has secured Trent Boult through direct signings. Welsh Fire, on the other hand, has had the most significant clearout, retaining only six players, all of whom are primarily batters. Trent Rockets, the 2022 champions, have also overhauled their squad, with notable departures including captain Lewis Gregory, Luke Wood, and Alex Hales. The stability and continuity in these top teams contrast sharply with the drastic changes seen in others.
Women’s Hundred: Strategic Moves and New Talent
In the women’s Hundred, London Spirit has taken a strategic approach by bringing back 11 members of their title-winning squad from last year. While Heather Knight, their captain, has not officially re-signed, she is expected to return via the right-to-match (RTM) mechanism. The team’s decision to prioritize Grace Harris over Meg Lanning underscores their focus on both past performance and potential contributions. Sophia Dunkley is expected to stay with Welsh Fire via the RTM, while Issy Wong, Emma Lamb, and Paige Scholfield are among the prominent domestic players available for the draft. Birmingham Phoenix, who have brought in Megan Schutt from Invincibles as a direct signing, will pick first and are considering Georgia Voll as a potential addition.
The Future of the Hundred
The Hundred is set to run from August 5 to 31 in 2025, with the ECB treating this year as a transitional period. The competition’s eight teams were valued at a combined £975 million following a privatisation process, and they will become franchises, run as joint-ventures with host counties, ahead of the 2026 edition. England’s men’s Test players are expected to be available for most of the season after their series against India, though Ben Stokes has decided to skip the tournament to focus on the Ashes in Australia. This decision highlights the ongoing balancing act between international commitments and domestic T20 competitions, a challenge that many top players and teams will continue to face.
