Australian Cricket Stars Secure Big Deals in The Hundred Auction
In a surprising turn of events at The Hundred auction, Australia's men's cricket players faced limited demand compared to their female counterparts, but several top internationals still managed to headline English cricket's premier white-ball tournament. The auction day was marked by high spending, with uncapped English prospect James Coles causing a stir by fetching a staggering Stg 390,000 (approximately $A733,000), the highest price of the event.
Limited Interest in Australian Players at Auction
Australian internationals Jason Behrendorff, Xavier Bartlett, and Ben Dwarshuis all went unsold during the auction, generating little interest among franchises. It wasn't until late in the day that Matt Short was bought by Welsh Fire, coached by Mike Hussey, for Stg 75,000 (around $A141,000). This contrasted sharply with the women's auction held earlier in the week, where seven Australian players were snapped up quickly.
Pre-Signed Deals Boost Australian Presence
Despite the auction's lukewarm response, the hard work had already been done by franchises, with five leading Australian internationals pre-signed in the weeks leading up to the inaugural men's auction. T20 skipper Mitch Marsh was among them, securing a deal with Sunrisers Leeds for Stg 200,000 (about $A376,000). The biggest money-spinning deal involving an Australian was for Hurricanes' power-hitter Tim David, who was pre-signed by Trent Rockets for Stg 350,000 (approximately $A658,000). This amount is Stg 140,000 (around $A263,000) more than what the Nottingham-based franchise paid for Beth Mooney, the joint-most expensive buy in the women's event.
Notable Signings and International Highlights
Other significant signings included Joe Root, who will join Welsh Fire for Stg 240,000 (about $A451,000), and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, bought by Sunrisers Leeds for Stg 190,000 (around $A357,000). Ahmed's signing made him the first player from Pakistan to be signed by an Indian-owned team in the tournament, dispelling fears of potential snubs. The most eye-watering amount was paid by London Spirit for James Coles, a 21-year-old spinning allrounder tipped to make his England debut this year. Coles, who earned just Stg 31,000 in The Hundred last year, will now earn over 12 times that amount after impressing in South Africa's domestic T20 event.
Top Earners and Overseas Signings
Coles will be the fourth-best paid player in the tournament, behind pre-signed England trio Harry Brook (Stg 465,000 or $A874,000 at Sunrisers Leeds), Phil Salt (Stg 450,000 or $A846,000 at Welsh Fire), and Jofra Archer (Stg 400,000 or $A752,000 at Southern Brave). The biggest overseas signing in the auction was South Africa skipper Aiden Markram, who secured a Stg 200,000 (about $A376,000) deal with Manchester Super Giants.
List of Australians in The Hundred Men's Tournament
- Mitchell Owen - Birmingham Phoenix, Stg 130,000 ($A244,000)
- Adam Zampa - London Spirit, Stg 190,000 ($A357,000)
- Tim David - Trent Rockets, Stg 350,000 ($A658,000)
- Marcus Stoinis - Southern Brave, Stg 150,000 ($A282,000)
- Mitch Marsh - Sunrisers Leeds, Stg 200,000 ($A376,000)
- Matt Short - Welsh Fire, Stg 75,000 ($A140,978)
This auction highlights the competitive nature of The Hundred, with Australian players securing significant roles despite initial auction challenges, ensuring a strong international presence in the upcoming tournament.
