The Hundred Draft: Who will Trent Rockets pick No 1 overall?
Who goes where?
That question will be answered at Sunday when global stars and players alike learn – and indeed if – theyll play in The Hundred following summer.
England Test players and icons have already been allocated, meaning franchises are well-stocked in some regions but short while.
Keeping that in mindwe examine exactly what each side will seem to perform in the first rounds…
Already allocated: Joe Root (batsman), Alex Hales (opener), Harry Gurney (left-arm seamer)
Immediate needs: Quick bowler depth
The Rockets could go in any way with the No 1 selection. Their three-player haul much is Hales Root and Gurneys nicely-balanced trio.
Of those six players available with the book price collection of #125,000, you would imagine that David Warner, Kagiso Rabada and Chris Gayle have been located on very top of the wish list.
Can they include their bowling ranks and the speed of Rabada? Or will they seem the explosive of with Hales in the peak of the order Warner or even Gayle?
Or will they spring a draft-day surprise and elect for any number of lesser-priced superstars, such as Andre Russell, Rashid Khan or Kane Williamson together with the first pick?
Already marketed: Jofra Archer (fast bowler), Chris Jordan (fast bowler), James Vince (opener)
Immediate demands: spinner, Batting depth, all-rounder
The Brave have the blistering rate of Archer and Jordan in their attack and therefore bolstering the batting will surely be their first port of call Sunday.
You would imagine Gayle would be the choice, adding to the Caribbean flair which is going to be on show on the sun south shore next summer, but they would also gladly accept Warner if it was him who dropped in their lap.
Again, like the Rockets, they can spring a surprise by snapping up Russell or even Rashid early, the latter with enjoyed a great two-year T20 spell just a small way down the coast with Sussex.
Alternatively, they could seem to kill 2 birds with one stone and fulfill their all-rounder along with spinner desires with Shakib Al Hasan after from the draft.
Already allocated: Ben Stokes (all-rounder), Adil Rashid (spinner), David Willey (left-arm seamer)
Immediate needs: Opener bowler, wicketkeeper
You can never have too many all-rounders in your group but, having already signed Stokes, at the expense of local Yorkshire lads Root and Jonny Bairstow, you would envision the Supercharges will address different regions of the team initially.
The two Gayle or Warner would probably be gladly welcomed if you be available. But the Superchargers might favor Rabada to drop into them – look to pair him with Protea Quinton de Kock in a latter around.
De Kock would not only fill that opener need of theirs, but also tackle the wicketkeeper vacancy from the squad.
Rashids presence on the group usually means the Superchargers do not need to bring a spinner until looking for some depth in the position in latter rounds, even while Willey ticks theleft-arm version box and its also an opening option.
Already allocated: Jonny Bairstow (opener), Tom Banton (opener), Colin Ingram (batsman)
Immediate demands: spinner, Fast-bowler, all-rounder
The Fire are already top-heavy on peak of the order and we havent even got to the draft!
Bairstow and Banton figure to be an explosive opening set – both can keep wicket – and – Ingram has turned into a devastating six-hitter from the Blast in the past several decades, playing the exact same Sophia Gardens surface.
It certainly gives the staff clarity of idea on Sunday, with adding to their own bowling positions the very first priority; Rabada, Lasith Malinga or Mitchell Starc – should on the board after the first three selections – certainly should be snapped .
If not, all-rounders Russell or even Dwayne Bravo may be options, or left-arm seamers Trent Boult or even Mohammad Amir. Though theres an argument to select a spinner, England frequently play just one when in Cardiff, because of the small boundaries directly, so that this need is better addressed in a subsequent round.
Already allocated: Sam Curran (all-rounder), Jason Roy (opener), Tom Curran (seam bowler)
Immediate demands: Batting thickness, spinner, wicketkeeper
Today is where it starts getting tricky. Who of those six players using the maximum book price of #125,000 will continue to be accessible while we get to the Invincibles and the No 5 pick?
Could one be Steve Smith? A marginally less appealing T20 prospect, however, arguably the worlds best Test batsman, who has seemingly won on the English crowds who booed him for so much of the summer.
Smith was given an ovation in The Oval after his 774 Ashes runs in a shocking 110.57 ordinary, and it is certainly possible that he might be calling the place his house next year.
Smith could slot in well at No 3 following the volatile hitting of Roy at the top of the purchase and may likewise be a controversial option as captain. When the Invincibles appear elsewhere, anticipate the familiar names of Rashid Russell, Williamson or De Kock to attribute from the teams conversation.
Already marketed: Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper-batsman), Saqib Mahmood (fast bowler), Matt Parkinson (spinner)
Immediate demands: Opener, all-rounder, batting thickness
The Originals have the contemporary age in their ranks in Buttlers T20 batsman.
But with England Test players put to feature only three group games in The Hundred, also Mahmood and Parkinson only just setting out in their fledgling foreign careers, the Old Trafford side can do with some star power to sell tickets about.
The very first place theyll likely look for this is at the batting department, therefore whoever owns Gayle, Warner, Smith, Russell, De Kock or Williamson remains available with the No 6 choice, expect Manchester to quickly snap them up.
Instead, they could appear to Australia and Glenn Maxwell or even Aaron Finch – both of whom have amazed at Old Trafford earlier, Maxwell for both Lancashire and Finch from these for Yorkshire. An wildcard shout might be the evergreen a continuing T20, Shane Watson winner.
Already allocated: Rory Burns (batsman), Eoin Morgan (batsman/captain), Dan Lawrence (batsman)
Immediate needs: opener , All-rounder, spinner
The Spirit have three batsmen in their group already, in addition to an obvious selection for captain in Englands World Cup-winning skipper Morgan.
Morgan gave a clue as to how he would look to construct a white-ball group when formerly covering the IPL for Sky Sports, saying:All-rounders are key for winning the IPL. That is where Id start. If thats indeed where he would begin, look for Russell or Bravo into line-up in Lords.
Instead, it might be twist which Spirit identify early on, with Morgan adding:The trend right now is around spinners, especially leg-spinners – look at the T20 ranks of top 10 bowlers, it is filled with mystery spinners.
Rashid and Sunil Narine were both selections in Morgans dream IPL XI, so could be early selections, as could Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, that impressed at Lords earlier this summer in the Vitality Blast.
Already allocated: Chris Woakes (all-rounder), Moeen Ali (spinner/all-rounder), Pat Brown (seam bowler)
Immediate demands: Opener, all-rounder
The selection to combine with the England-contracted Woakes of moeen means the draft is started by Birmingham marginally on the back-foot.
Moeens pick means the Phoenix forego among their first-round draft picks – that the Invincibles and Spirit suffer the same fate because of Roy and Morgan, respectively – however Birmingham have the extra blow of picking closing of the eight sides.
By their No 8 select a lot of the big titles will be off the board, though thats not to say that there wont be some gems available for them. De Kock is one who could cover both their search for an opener near the peak of the order plus a wicketkeeper.
Additionally, an all-rounder and/or spinner will likely be high on their schedule with the stress that Moeen could be back as a permanent figure of the England staff by the summertime, therefore West Indian trio Russell, Bravo and Narine – that can all be volatile with the bat, too – can be options.
The Hundred Draft – Live will soon be shown on Sky Sports Cricket, Main Event & Sky One from 7pm on Sunday. It will also be accessible through Sky Sports Facebook and YouTube stations, as well as dwell on the Sky Sports app and streamed skysports.com.
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