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So, here’s a weird thing. James Anderson, the cricket icon we all know and love, decides at the ripe age of 42 to dive into franchise cricket for, believe it or not, the first time ever. Who would’ve thought? Anyway, Manchester Originals snagged him up as part of their wildcard draft picks last week. Kind of a big deal, right?
And then there’s Rocky Flintoff. Surprised? Yeah, me too. He’s just 17 and already pulled into the Northern Superchargers team, coached by his dad, Andrew. Maybe it’s nepotism, or maybe Rocky’s that good. Your guess is as good as mine.
Shifting gears a bit, Ben Sanderson from Northamptonshire lands a gig with Trent Rockets after a stellar T20 Blast campaign. Toby Albert for Southern Brave and Ben Kellaway for Welsh Fire were also tossed into the wildcard mix. Young talents shining through—love to see it.
Fast forward to August 5, which by the way, is when the fifth round of this shindig kicks off with a London Derby, and we’re all here for it. Let’s see how these teams stack up.
Wait, did someone say subscribe for exclusive cricket stories? They’re practically throwing news at you for 14p a day at The Cricket Paper. Just figured I’d toss that in.
## Birmingham Phoenix
Oh boy, Birmingham Phoenix picked Louie Kimber and Liam Patterson-White from Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Also, their international roster is packed with Kiwi stars like Trent Boult. These guys are solid—Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell are holding it down in the batting department.
With Jamie Smith moving along, they needed a new wicketkeeper, and in comes Joe Clarke. Will Smeed’s back in action too after missing 2024 due to injury. Moeen Ali retired and all, but they seem covered with Aneurin Donald and wildcard picks like Kimber and Patterson-White for middle-order power.
Trent Boult was quite the catch, fresh off his Major League Cricket victory. With Milne and Southee beside him, that’s some pace trio! If they play this right, there might be a maiden title under Liam Livingstone’s captaincy. Bold, I know.
Probable lineup? Well, think Smeed up top, then Duckett, Clarke, Bethell, followed by Livingstone, Howell, and the Kiwi force. It’s a mix, really.
## London Spirit
Wildcards? Sean Dickson and Ryan Higgins, if you’re curious. They’ve revamped things after finishing last in 2024. Warner and Williamson now lead the charge at the top. Jamie Smith, a Centrally Contracted player, was another clever addition—keep your eyes on him.
Their draft pick, all-rounder Jamie Overton, hits big and bowls. Not to mention Luke Wood—nabbing him for £63,000 screams bargain. And if you like a shock, look out for leg-spinner Jafer Chohan making his Hundred debut.
There’s chatter about the middle order’s speed at scoring, but Sean Dickson might surprise us. Ryan Higgins, bringing variety to their seam attack, was called again—fingers crossed.
London’s possible squad? Maybe Warner and Williamson leading, with the likes of Overton, Dawson, Wood. Could be anyone’s guess.
## Manchester Originals
Manchester Originals had a rough 2024, so Anderson’s homecoming could spice things up. Then throw in high-energy foreign players. It’s like their back-to-back finals in 2022 and 2023 are calling.
There’s 42-year-old Anderson’s experience paired with Noor Ahmad’s fascinating spin. Apparently, Anderson still bags wickets—who knew? They’ve got Josh Tongue involved now, plus more names like Scott Currie. Garton joins in, balancing things out.
Can’t miss the destructive top order here: think Sir Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Klaasen, Rachin Ravindra. Youngster Matthew Hurst might jump in on those records too. Lewis Gregory’s transfer is crucial—swapping places with Jamie Overton.
Potentially less depth in the middle could be an issue, depending on how de Lange fits in. Ravindra could be MIA early due to international duties, offering Ben McKinney a chance to shine.
## Northern Superchargers
Rocky Flintoff and James Fuller stepped in as wildcards. Despite Nicholas Pooran and Ben Stokes missing out, David Miller’s ready to fill that void—a spectacular addition, I’d say.
With struggling openers, they snapped up talents like Crawley, Lawrence, and Malan. And a nifty buy was Michael Pepper for £52,000. Rocky Flintoff might not play much, but he’s in the mix.
Adil Rashid and Santner should manage the opponents well. Santner’s absence due to international duties might stir things up. Meanwhile, their pace could face challenges. Carse and Potts are capable, but Ben Dwarshuis silently scoops up wickets.
## Oval Invincibles
Champions already, they welcome star Rashid Khan—despite losing Adam Zampa, last year’s top bowler. His end-of-August availability might stir plans a bit though.
A head-scratcher, Behrendorff’s in but was an uninspiring choice. Tawanda Muyeye’s faith in him is one to watch, with Jacks opening. Domestically, Cox is reaching milestones left and right.
They picked Scrimshaw wisely—a promising wildcard pick with pace. And Middlesex’s Zafar Gohar adds depth. Could be more with their preference for spin but hey, who’s counting?
## Southern Brave
Southern Brave had to make a detour post-wildcard. Jason Roy filled the gap left by du Plessis. Cartwright filled the overseas real-estate with needed mid-order muscle. There’s buzz about them needing one more batter. Maybe.
Toby Albert brings excitement, and might take Finn Allen’s place if needed. Vince’s run-scoring magic from 2024 is still anticipated. And Jordan adds a powerful late-order option with pace from bowlers like Archer, Jordan, and Topley.
After parting with Rehan Ahmed, Michael Bracewell anchors the spin. But there’s an argument they’re overly pace-focused.
## Trent Rockets
Trent Rockets mixed things with fresh faces, selecting Marcus Stoinis and speedster Lockie Ferguson. David Willey steps in for Lewis Gregory as captain.
Flexibility shines—batsmen also swing the ball. Stoinis, Willey, and Rehan Ahmed, great options. Stoinis plans to skip Australia’s series, giving him fresh availability too.
Their lineup rearrangement sees diversity. Root might open with Banton. Newcomers Holden and Hose strengthen the foundation. Sam Hain is in, and Linde provides spin backing.
Wildcards include Callum Parkinson and Ben Sanderson. They add experience and a knack for stealing wickets at crunch time.
## Welsh Fire
Welsh Fire revamped—consistency needed. With Smith joining, things lit up. His Aussie backers, Green and Meredith, add heat. They aim for better shows after 2024 flop.
Chris Woakes arrives as a prime move. Big bucks got David Payne back. Walter and Zaib bulk up the middle. Local? Ben Kellaway thrills with ambidextrous bowling.
Ajeet Singh Dale’s inclusion eases pace gaps. His experience should fill voids, despite costing a bit.
Exciting, right? Cricket never feels dull. Keep following the players and surprises along the way.
