Birmingham Phoenix Performance Director James Thomas believes The Hundred’s first auction will bring a new level of excitement to the 2026 competition.
In addition to the shift to an auction, squads will be made up of between 16 and 18 players, with four overseas players permitted. There will be a salary cap in place along with a salary collar – a minimum amount teams must spend. While minimum salaries will be in place, there will no longer be specific salaries set, with teams deciding how much they are willing to bid at the auction.
The Hundred’s 2026 auction will be the first-of-its-kind in major UK sport and Thomas sees the switch as an exciting opportunity for fans and players alike.
“At the Phoenix we’re really excited about the prospect of an auction next year,” he said. “I think we’ve seen around the world that mega auctions in global franchise cricket create real excitement.
“For us, it’s a great opportunity to build the identity of The Hundred and also the Phoenix itself. We’re really excited about going to the auction, bringing home some really exciting high-level players and getting back out on the field at Edgbaston and performing.
“We want people to expect exciting cricket. Lots of fours, lots of sixes, winning cricket and we want people leaving with smiles on their faces having supported the Phoenix to victory.”
Teams will be able to directly sign or retain up to four players each from mid-November to the end of January and that will have a direct impact on their final salary pot ahead of the auction, depending on how many of their four direct signings or retentions they use.
Therefore, player recruitment strategy is key and Thomas has provided an insight into the Birmingham Phoenix’s approach for 2026.
“Without giving too much away, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes for the last few months trying to understand what potential scenarios might come about from the new regulations,” he added.
“We’re using a lot of data, a lot of conversation with coaches about what the best team will be for both the men’s and the women’s teams. We want to challenge to win the competition.
“What’s important at the Phoenix is a connection with the city and the club. We’ve got a fantastic, diverse community, so we want to see that diversity in our teams. Expect to see bold, exciting cricket from players that can connect with our community. A blend of local talent, national talent and international overseas players, so a really exciting mix that is really representative of Birmingham as a city.”
A key change to next season’s regulations will see the overall salary pot in The Hundred women’s competition increase 100 per cent for the 2026 season, rising to £880,000 per team.
The increase to the salary pot in The Hundred women’s competition will also see the base price salaries for the lowest-paid player increase considerably to £15,000, up by 50 per cent, which is welcomed by Thomas.
“I think we’re really pleased and excited that the salary cap for the women’s game has more than doubled. It’s a really important step forward, but we recognise there’s more work to do in this area and we’ll be pushing for that in years to come.”