Which Australian Cricketers Will Play in The Hundred?

Now that the draft has taken place for The Hundred, we know which cricketers will be playing for which teams in the new limited overs format that the ECB is playing in July 2020. The concept is very simple. Eight cities around England and Wales have franchises and will play in a round-robin format. An innings is limited to 100 balls, putting the emphasis on aggressive bowling attack and shots with the bat.

Ends will be changed after 10 balls - an over in The Hundred rather than the usual six. Bowlers are allowed to bowl a maximum of 20 balls per game, but no more than 10 consecutive deliveries. The first 25 balls of an innings are considered a powerplay. Once all eight teams in The Hundred have played four matches at home and four away, including their designated rivals twice, the top four based on a points system will contest playoffs to determine the winner.

Given the success of limited overs cricket Down Under thanks to competitions like the Big Bash, it's no surprise to see a number of Australians signing up to take part in The Hundred. This article tells you who is playing for which team.

Birmingham Phoenix

Former Australia allrounder Andrew McDonald played just four Tests but now coaches Birmingham Phoenix. Compatriots Riki Wessels - a wicketkeeper-batsman best known for his time with English County Championship side Nottinghamshire - and current limited overs international spinner Adam Zampa are signed up to the Brummies who will play their home games at Edgbaston.

London Spirit

"Glenn Maxwell" (CC BY 2.0) by www.davidmolloyphotography.com

Aussie sporting legends don't come any bigger than Shane Warne. He coaches the Lord's based London Spirit and calls upon current Australian international allrounder Glenn Maxwell for The Hundred. One of two franchises based in the English capital, Spirit is a reference to the iconic ground being the spiritual home of cricket.

Manchester Originals

Former Australia left-handed batsman and part-time wrist spinner Simon Katich coaches the Manchester Originals. Based at Old Trafford, one of the north of England's best areas for sport, the Originals have limited overs international allrounder Dan Christian in their ranks.

Northern Superchargers

Darren Lehmann played for Yorkshire during his cricket career on the pitch and now takes charge of the Northern Superchargers who will turn out at Headingley for home matches. The former Australia coach has three compatriots available for The Hundred - current national limited overs captain Aaron Finch, top order batsman Chris Lynn and uncapped pace bowler Nathan Rimmington.

Oval Invincibles

The second of the London based franchises borrows its name from the Arsenal football team that went unbeaten throughout the 2003-04 Premier League season. Playing home games at The Oval, the Aussie flavour is limited to coach Tom Moody - who has previously been Director of Cricket for the Caribbean Premier League in the West Indies and Big Bash - and uncapped leg spinner Nathan Sowter.

Southern Braves

"DAVID WARNER" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by NAPARAZZI

Australia's Test opener David Warner failed to make much of an impact on The Ashes, but he remains a dangerous man at the crease for limited overs cricket. He's one of the marquee stars signed up to the Southampton based Southern Braves. They are 9/2 favourites with bet365 in the cricket betting on The Hundred.

Trent Rockets

Two Aussies will call Trent Bridge home for the tournament. Allrounder D'Arcy Short and fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile rub shoulders with England captain Joe Root, who missed out on selection by the Northern Superchargers. They will have to put The Ashes rivalry aside.

Welsh Fire

A couple of Australia's best cricketers will be based at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Steve Smith was the undisputed man of the series for the tourists as they retained The Ashes this past summer, but he's just as effective in limited overs as the Test arena. You can say the same of pace bowler Mitchell Starc who joins Smith at Welsh Fire and they will be contenders to win The Hundred as a result.