Hundred teams lock in early retentions before auction

With the January 16 deadline fast approaching for the Hundred franchises to lock their retentions ahead of the March auction, the eight men’s and women’s teams have started shaping up their squads.

The rules allow each team to pre-sign a maximum of four players, of which at least one should be a member from last year’s squad; not more than two could be overseas, and a maximum of two can have held a central contract in either 2024-25 or 2025-26. Additionally, only a maximum of three of these signings can be direct signings. There will be no right-to-match in the auction this season.

MI London, rebranded from Oval Invincibles, have retained Sam Curran and Will Jacks, while their women’s team has named Danielle Wyatt-Hodge as a direct signing. The men’s team has let go of their captain Sam Billings, while they have also not retained Jordan Cox, last year's Player of the Series.

Elsewhere, Sunrisers Leeds, who changed the name from Northern Superchargers, have retained Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Nathan Ellis and Mitchell Marsh. In the women’s team, the reigning champions have retained Kate Cross, Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland.

As for Birmingham Phoenix, the women’s team has retained Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry and has named Alice Capsey as their direct signing. The men’s team, meanwhile, has retained Jacob Bethell while Rehan Ahmed has been signed directly.

Trent Rockets, meanwhile, have not retained any player as yet in the men’s team, with Tim David signed directly. The women’s team has retained English all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Manchester Super Giants, Southern Brave, London Spirit and Welsh Fire have not announced their retentions and direct signings yet.

The men's team will comprise 16-18 players, while the maximum squad size for the women's squads is set at 15. The salary pot for the Men's competition has increased is GBP 2.05 million, while the pot for women's is GBP 880,000. 

The deduction from the salary pool will be based on the number of pre-auction signings, which is:

The Hundred Men's Competition

• One player: GBP 350,000
• Two players:  GBP 650,000 
• Three players: GBP 850,000 
• Four players: GBP 950,000 

The Hundred Women's Competition

• One player: GBP 130,000
• Two players:  GBP 240,000
• Three players: GBP 310,000
• Four players: GBP 360,000

The Hundred (Men’s and Women’s) 2026 Pre-signings and Retentions

Birmingham Phoenix

Men: Jacob Bethell (retained), Rehan Ahmed (signed from Trent Rockets)

Women: Ellyse Perry (retained, overseas), Alice Capsey (pre-signed from Oval Invicibles)

London Spirit

Men: Liam Livingstone (pre-signed from Birmingham Phoenix), Jamie Overton (retained)

Women: TBA

Manchester Super Giants

Men: Jos Buttler (retained), Noor Ahmad (retained), Heinrich Klaasen (retained), Liam Dawson (pre-signed from London Spirit)

Women: TBA

MI London

Men: Sam Curran (retained), Will Jacks (retained)

Women: Danni Wyatt-Hodge (pre-signed from Southern Brave)

Southern Brave

Men: Jofra Archer (retained)

Women: Lauren Bell (retained)

Sunrisers Leeds

Men: Harry Brook (Retained), Brydon Carse (retained), Mitch Marsh (pre-signed, overseas), Nathan Ellis (pre-signed, overseas)

Women: Kate Cross (retained), Annabel Sutherland (retained), Phoebe Litchfield (retained)

Trent Rockets

Men: Tim David (pre-signed, overseas)

Women: Nat Sciver-Brunt (retained)

Welsh Fire

Men: Phil Salt (pre-signed from Manchester Originals)

Women: TBA