The Hundred : Men’s Preview
Trent Rockets
Best XI :
Alex Hales
D’arcy Short
Dawid Malan
Joe Root
Tom Moores
Samit Patel
Lewis Gregory
Rashid Khan
Wahab Riaz
Sam Cook
Matthew Carter
Strengths
Explosive opening partnership combined with a deep batting line-up should cause some high scores
An excellent spin trio as Rashid Khan combines with two domestic titans in Matt Carter and Samit Patel
Features the core of a highly successful Nottinghamshire side
Weaknesses
Malan and Root are both excellent in the anchor role but two anchors is rarely necessary in T20, let alone the Hundred so they may actually benefit when Root is replaced by Luke Wright after two games
Prediction : 3rd
Northern Superchargers
Best XI :
Adam Lyth
Chris Lynn
Faf du Plessis
Ben Stokes
Harry Brook
John Simpson
David Willey
Adil Rashid
Brydon Carse
Mujeeb ur Rahman
Matthew Potts
Strengths
The Superchargers have clearly looked to bolster their top-order batting with an exceptional top-four as well as Harry Brook, the breakout star of this year’s T20 Blast
Their spin duo is high class with Rashid and Mujeeb both inside the top five of the T20 rankings
Weaknesses
While the spin department takes care of itself, the Superchargers seam bowlers are not quite up to the same standard.
David Willey is a highly effective powerplay bowler but often struggles at the death, which may put pressure onto a younger bowler
Prediction : 4th
Oval Invincibles
Best XI :
Jason Roy
Will Jacks
Colin Ingram
Laurie Evans
Sam Billings
Sam Curran
Sunil Narine
Tom Curran
Saqib Mahmood
Reece Topley
Tabraiz Shamsi
Strengths
Their opening partnership of Roy and Jacks has been dominant for Surrey this season
They also bat extremely deep, allowing for an aggressive approach up top
The bowling also has a balanced look to it, with seven options in the eleven including the number 1 T20I bowler Tabraiz Shamsi and Saqib Mahmood who has been excellent against Pakistan
Weaknesses
However, the attack does seem a touch undermanned when it comes to death bowling
Prediction : 2nd
London Spirit
Best XI :
Zak Crawley
Josh Inglis
Joe Denly
Eoin Morgan
Ravi Bopara
Dan Lawrence
Mohammad Nabi
Mark Wood
Mohammad Amir
Mason Crane
Jade Dernbach
Strengths
Spirit boast powerful batters throughout their top seven with Mohammad Nabi, a well-respected international player, coming in as low as seven
They also hold a lot of bowlers as Lawrence, Denly and Bopara all offer part-time options while the spinners will likely thrive under Shane Warne
Weaknesses
Although Spirit’s current squad looks dangerous and well-rounded, with Lawrence, Crawley and Wood all unavailable after two games they may not quite have the quality to succeed
Prediction : 7th
Southern Brave
Best XI :
Quinton De Kock
Alex Davies
Devon Conway
James Vince
Colin de Grandhomme
Delray Rawlins
Liam Dawson
George Garton
Jofra Archer
Chris Jordan
Tymal Mills
Strengths
Powerful batting line-up including an in-form James Vince alongside gun overseas players in Conway and De Kock
International quality bowling attack which covers all bases from extreme pace to left-armers and spinners
Weaknesses
Brave may struggle to fit all their players into one side and by backing their incredible pace options they may remove the variety from their attack
Mills, Jordan and Archer all have recent injury issues while George Garton hasn’t played a competitive game in several weeks
Prediction : 1st
Welsh Fire
Best XI :
Jonny Bairstow
Tom Banton
Ben Duckett
Glenn Phillips
Matthew Critchley
Ryan Higgins
Liam Plunkett
Qais Ahmad
Lungi Ngidi
Jake Ball
David Payne
Strengths
The Cardiff-based side have one of the strongest top-fours in the competition, three England internationals alongside Glenn Phillips who has been in amazing form for Gloucestershire
They also boast an excellent and varied pace attack, particularly once Lungi Ngidi arrives after three games
Weaknesses
However, Fire’s strengths are also their biggest weaknesses with a relatively weak spin contingent as well as an extremely top-heavy line-up
They will also be concerned by the loss of Jonny Bairstow, one of the world’s best white-ball players after just two games
Prediction : 8th
Manchester Originals
Best XI :
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Colin Munro
Joe Clarke
Colin Ackermann
Tom Lammonby
Carlos Brathwaite
Ollie Robinson
Lockie Ferguson
Matt Parkinson
Steve Finn
Strengths
Again, the Originals have an exceptional top-order with four proven matchwinners
Their bowling attack also has great variation, combining the spin of Parkinson, the pace of Ferguson and the height of Finn
Weaknesses
Losing Jos Buttler after just two games is a concern as while Sam Hain can step in, he may not suit their aggressive batting style
Their middle-order is also largely unproven, particularly once Robinson is removed
Prediction : 5th
Birmingham Phoenix
Best XI :
Finn Allen
Daniel Bell-Drummond
Moeen Ali
Liam Livingstone
Tom Abell
Chris Cooke
Chris Woakes
Benny Howell
Tom Helm
Adam Milne
Imran Tahir
Strengths
Phoenix have an exceptional top-order who are proven performers across both domestic and international cricket
They also have a lot of bowling options, facilitated partly by Moeen and Livingstone but also through a strong group of domestic fast bowlers
Weaknesses
Despite their squad featuring a great depth of batters, almost all of them are best utilised in the top three, an issue exacerbated by injuries to both Abell and Woakes