England World Cup winner Jonny Bairstow is one of eight players retained by Welsh Fire today for the first season of cricket’s new, action-packed competition The Hundred.
One of England’s most destructive white-ball batters, Bairstow has been retained by the Cardiff-based side after agreeing a deal to stay at the team.
A number of West Country-based women’s stars have also signed for Welsh Fire with Alex Griffiths, Georgia Hennessy, Lauren Filer, Sophie Luff and Natasha Wraith all confirmed. All have been part of the highly successful Western Storm side previously, with Sophie Luff captaining the side in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy last summer.
Joining Bairstow in the men’s squad are exciting batters, and fellow England internationals, Tom Banton and Ben Duckett. Both have extensive experience playing in white-ball tournaments across the world and will be part of an impressive batting line-up.
Welsh Fire are one of eight new teams taking part in The Hundred, a new 100-ball competition that is designed to throw open cricket’s doors to everyone. Boasting world class men’s and women’s players, it will take place this summer and feature eight city-based teams from Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Southampton and two in London. It will be screened live by Sky and the BBC.
Bairstow will line up for Welsh Fire alongside international teammate Ollie Pope, who became the team’s Test centrally contracted England player last autumn. All England men’s Test contracted players have been allocated a Hundred team.
Jonny Bairstow said: “I’m delighted to be staying at Welsh Fire and I’m really looking forward to representing the team this summer. Ben (Duckett) and Tom (Banton) are both excellent players and we’ve got the makings of a really strong line-up.”
Sophie Luff said: “It was an easy decision to stay at Welsh Fire. We have a strong West Country contingent in the squad and that is hugely important to me. It promises to be a hugely exciting summer of women’s cricket and I can’t wait to be part of it.”
The remaining retained men’s players will be announced on February 4 while the women’s squads will continue to be announced in the coming months.
Welsh Fire confirmed signings: Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Alex Griffiths, Georgia Hennessy, Lauren Filer, Sophie Luff, Natasha Wraith