The 2021 season was Welsh Fire's first season of the new franchise 100 ball cricket, The Hundred.
Players The first players assigned to the Welsh Fire were England women's centrally contracted players Katie George and Bryony Smith, England men's red-ball contracted player Jonny Bairstow, and two "local icons" in Somerset's Tom Banton and Glamorgan's Colin Ingram.
Men's side In the initial draft for the men's Hundred on 20 October 2019, Welsh Fire selected Australia internationals Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith as overseas players at the £125,000 salary level, as well as Qais Ahmed at the £60,000 level. Smith was appointed as captain of the team in February 2020. After the Hundred was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonny Bairstow lost his England central contract and was replaced in that capacity at Welsh Fire by Ollie Pope. Smith and Starc were also not retained for the rescheduled competition. Bairstow was ultimately re-signed by the Fire as one of their salary-banded players, and appointed as captain in July 2021.
Bold denotes players with international caps. Name Date of birth (age) Batting style Bowling style Notes Batsmen1 Ian Cockbain Right-handed Right-arm medium 17 Ben Duckett Left-handed — 18 Tom Banton Right-handed — 76 Leus du Plooy Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Wildcard pick; EU passport— Ollie Pope Right-handed — Centrally contracted All-rounders4 Josh Cobb Right-handed Right-arm off break 20 Matt Critchley Right-handed Right-arm leg break 29 Ryan Higgins Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium 50 James Neesham Left-handed Right-arm fast-medium Overseas player73 David Lloyd Right-handed Right-arm medium Wicketkeepers23 Glenn Phillips Right-handed Right-arm off break Overseas player51 Jonny Bairstow Right-handed — Captain Pace bowlers 7 David Payne Right-handed Left-arm fast-medium 8 Matt Milnes Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium Replacement player14 Jake Ball Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium 19 Luke Fletcher Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium Replacement player28 Liam Plunkett Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium Spin bowlers30 Qais Ahmad Right-handed Right-arm leg break Overseas player87 Graeme White Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Replacement player
Women's side Bold denotes players with international caps. Name Date of birth (age) Batting style Bowling style Notes Batters63 Sophie Luff Right-handed Right-arm medium Captain All-rounders44 Alice Macleod Right-handed Right-arm off break 50 Hayley Matthews Right-handed Right-arm off break Overseas player64 Georgia Hennessy Right-handed Right-arm medium Wicketkeepers7 Nat Wraith Right-handed — 8 Georgia Redmayne Left-handed — Overseas player30 Sarah Taylor Right-handed — Pace bowlers 17 Piepa Cleary Right-handed Right-arm medium Overseas player25 Alex Griffiths Right-handed Right-arm medium 99 Katie George Left-handed Left-arm medium Centrally contracted— Lauren Filer Right-handed Right-arm medium — Amy Gordon Right-handed Right-arm medium Spin bowlers2 Nicole Harvey Right-handed Right-arm leg break 3 Hannah Baker Right-handed Right-arm leg break 4 Bryony Smith Right-handed Right-arm off break
Fixtures (Men)
July
August
Fixtures (Women)
July
August
Standings Women
advances to the Final advances to the Eliminator
Men
advances to the Final advances to the Eliminator
References