Rishad Hossain goes unsold at The Hundred auction Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain failed to secure a franchise in the inaugural men’s auction of The Hundred, despite being listed with a base price of £75,000 (Tk1.12 crore). The player, who was grouped in the spin-bowling category alongside Jafer Chohan, Usman Tariq, and Akeal Hosein, did not attract any bids when his name was brought to the bidding block. Meanwhile, Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq generated significant interest and was eventually signed by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000, surpassing his base price of £100,000. Another spinner, Abrar Ahmed, was acquired by Sunrisers Leeds, the sister franchise of the IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad, for £190,000. This marked one of the most expensive deals among overseas spinners. The auction’s standout moment came when England Lions all-rounder James Coles made history by being signed by London Spirit for £390,000, becoming the most expensive player in the men’s Hundred auction. Earlier in the bidding process, Pakistan stars Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan also went under the hammer but did not receive any offers. Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, however, secured a lucrative deal with Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000. Other notable players who missed out included Pakistan opener Saim Ayub and Australian pacer Ben Dwarshuis. In the fast-bowling category, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult was quickly signed by MI London for £100,000 after attracting a single bid. The auction highlighted the competitive nature of the market, with several high-profile players either securing deals or facing challenges in finding a franchise. The results underscored the varying levels of interest across different categories and the strategic decisions made by the franchises.#the_hundred #birmingham_phoenix #rishad_hossain #jafer_chohan #usman_tariq
The Hundred auction 2026 - Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine earn paydays Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney emerged as the top earners in the inaugural Women’s Hundred auction, each securing a £210,000 salary, surpassing the previous record for the tournament. The duo narrowly outbid England allrounder Dani Gibson, who was signed by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000. South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk, a standout performer in the 50-over World Cup and WPL, joined London Spirit for £170,000. India’s Deepti Sharma, however, received a sole bid at her base price of £27,500 from Sunrisers Leeds, while wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh was acquired by Manchester Super Giants for £50,000. Devine, 36, will play for Welsh Fire as she transitions into the latter stages of her career. She stepped down as New Zealand T20 captain after winning the 2024 World Cup and retired from ODIs late last year. Australian Mooney, a consistent batter and wicketkeeper, was the subject of a bidding war between Trent Rockets and Manchester Super Giants, with the Rockets securing her services. Their salaries, £210,000 each, far exceed the previous record of £65,000 in the Women’s Hundred and are 14 times higher than the 2021 tournament’s top wage of £15,000. These figures also surpass the highest salaries in the Women’s Big Bash League and match the pay scales of the WPL. The salary cap for teams in the Women’s Hundred has doubled to £880,000 per franchise, driven by new private investment in the tournament. This marks a significant shift from the first edition in 2021, which saw a much lower cap. Davina Perrin, the 19-year-old who scored a 43-ball century in last year’s Eliminator, became the first player sold at auction, joining Birmingham Phoenix for £50,000.#sophie_devine #sunrisers_leeds #the_hundred #welsh_fire #beth_mooney
The Hundred auction 2026 - Women's Hundred auction signals new dawn in English cricket A historic six-hour auction under the iconic LED screens of London’s Piccadilly Circus marked the dawn of a new era for women’s cricket in England. Newly formed franchises, backed by private investors, spent around £4 million to secure top talent, transforming players into some of the highest-paid female athletes in the UK. The event, part of The Hundred’s 2026 season, saw teams bid aggressively for star players, with several young athletes earning six-figure contracts for a tournament that spans just four weeks. The auction followed a major restructuring of the tournament, which transitioned from a draft system to a franchise model. Eight teams, now owned by external investors, have doubled their salary caps for the women’s competition to £880,000, surpassing the WBBL in pay and approaching the levels of the WPL. The influx of private capital has already helped clear debts for several county cricket clubs, with players now reaping the rewards of this financial shift. Among the standout deals was Dani Gibson’s £190,000 contract with Sunrisers Leeds, a record for an English player. Gibson, a 24-year-old batter, had been sidelined for a year due to a back injury but was seen as a high-value asset due to her potential. “I’m still in shock,” she said after the auction, describing the experience as overwhelming. Her coach, Adi Birrell, emphasized that Gibson’s deal was a top priority, highlighting her importance to the team’s strategy. The auction also brought significant attention to young, untested talent. Tilly Corteen-Coleman, an 18-year-old left-arm spinner without an international cap, was sold to Southern Brave for £105,000—a sevenfold increase from the £15,000 deals signed in 2019.#sophie_devine #the_hundred #piccadilly_circus #sunrisers_leeds #trent_rockets
