England World Cup winner Liam Plunkett is one of five players retained by Welsh Fire today for the first season of cricket’s new, action-packed competition The Hundred.
One of England’s key white-ball bowlers during the successful Men’s World Cup campaign, Plunkett’s signing – along with confirmation that Afghan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad and Gloucestershire pair Ryan Higgins and David Payne will also join the squad - means Welsh Fire now have seven men’s players signed up to play. The team’s remaining seven slots will now be picked at a draft later this month.
South East Stars’ Amy Gordon joins Sophie Luff, Alex Griffiths, Georgia Hennessy, Lauren Filer and Natasha Wraith in an exciting Welsh Fire women’s team. Still only 19, all-rounder Gordon has been a regular for Surrey Women and the newly formed South East Stars as part of the new women’s Regional set-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.
Plunkett joins fellow World Cup winner Jonny Bairstow in a men’s squad full of pace and power, with fellow England internationals, Tom Banton and Ben Duckett. Afghan leg-spinner Ahmad was most recently drafted by the Colombo Kings for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League.
Liam Plunkett said: “I’m chuffed to be staying at Welsh Fire and I'm really looking forward to representing the team this summer. Jonny [Bairstow], Ollie [Pope] and Tom [Banton] are all top-class players and we’ve got the makings of a really strong line-up.”
Amy Gordon said: “I’m really excited to join Welsh Fire. There are some incredibly talented players in this team and it will be great to learn from them. It promises to be a hugely exciting summer of women’s cricket and I can’t wait to be part of it.”
Visit thehundred.com to find out more about the latest squads and the new 100-ball competition.
Full list of players announced today:
Welsh Fire: Qais Ahmad, Amy Gordon, Ryan Higgins, David Payne, Liam Plunkett
Complete list of players confirmed for Welsh Fire in 2021:
Welsh Fire Men's Squad: Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Ryan Higgins, David Payne, Liam Plunkett, Qais Ahmad
Welsh Fire Women's Squad: Alex Griffiths, Georgia Hennessy, Lauren Filer, Sophie Luff, Natasha Wraith, Amy Gordon,