Birmingham Phoenix squads near completion in The Hundred

Birmingham Phoenix have added four stars to their squads for the first ever season of The Hundred.

Unveiled live on Sky Sports following The Hundred Draft, Birmingham Phoenix have bolstered their batting line-up by securing Somerset red ball captain Tom Abell , Kent opener Daniel Bell-Drummond and Gloucestershire opener Miles Hammond .

Wolverhampton-born England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss joins the Birmingham Phoenix women’s team, which already boasts fellow England stars Amy Jones and Kirstie Gordon.

Only one place now remains in both the men’s and women’s squads. The men’s team squad will be finalised with the selection of the Vitality wildcard and the final women’s team member will be confirmed next month.

Birmingham Phoenix men’s team will be captained by Birmingham-born and bred England all-rounder Moeen Ali with New Zealand international and fellow all-rounder Sophie Devine skippering the women’s team.

“It means a huge amount to captain my home team in The Hundred and it will be a very proud moment when I lead Birmingham Phoenix out at Edgbaston for the first time on 23 July.”

Moeen Ali

“The squad has really taken shape, with the best domestic players snapped up alongside outstanding overseas players in Kane Williamson and Adam Zampa. I can’t wait for us to get started.”

All four men’s and women’s home games in The Hundred will be played back-to-back on the same day at Edgbaston, starting on Friday 23 July when Birmingham Phoenix take on London Spirit.

“I’m extremely proud and humbled to be captain of this side, particularly in the first season of The Hundred,” said Devine. “I’ve spent a lot of time in Birmingham and it’s a great place and I certainly love the Midlands. It made my decision a bit easier to go there.

“People are starting to think about the game differently and that’s what’s great about The Hundred in that it’s been able to spark conversation; do you bowl a bowler for five or ten balls and how early are you going to go with the bat, what are you going to do with your batting order. I’m really looking forward to the challenge of it.”

Sophie Devine

Warwickshire Members can save 50% off tickets for all Birmingham Phoenix home games at Edgbaston in an exclusive members’ pre-sale from 23 February – 28 February 2021. Eligible members will be sent an email from Edgbaston with booking details on 23 February.

The exclusive discounted prices mean that Members can secure a seat for both men’s and women’s games for £5 -£13.50, while all tickets for under 16s are priced at just £2.50 during this window.

Sanjay Patel, Managing Director of The Hundred, said: “With the men’s Draft now complete and more stellar signings for the women’s competition, The Hundred promises to be unmissable entertainment this summer. We hope the fast new format of the game and exciting teams packed with world-class players will inspire existing fans and newcomers alike and get more people following and playing cricket.”

Tickets for The Hundred will go on sale to those signed up at thehundred.com through a priority window on 7 April, with general sale beginning on 21 April. Refund policies will be in place if matches are impacted by Covid.