England’s Test captain Ben Stokes has decided to skip The Hundred 2025 to focus on his fitness for the Ashes.
Stokes, 33, was not retained by Northern Superchargers as teams announced their player signings for the upcoming tournament. He suffered a left hamstring tear during England’s New Zealand tour in December, months after a similar injury last August. The all-rounder underwent surgery and was ruled out for at least three months, delaying his return.
England’s next Test series is against Zimbabwe in May, but Stokes hopes to regain fitness for the County Championship in April. The Hundred begins on August 5, just a day after England’s five-Test series against India ends in September. The highly anticipated Ashes series will commence in Perth on November 21, marking a crucial moment for Stokes.
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Steve Smith Joins Welsh Fire in New Signing System
Australian batter Steve Smith has signed with Welsh Fire through a new private negotiation system introduced for this year’s tournament. Teams can now directly sign one male and one female player outside the standard Hundred draft process. Smith was originally set to play for Fire in 2020, but COVID-19 postponed the tournament’s launch.
Major Player Signings and Draft Updates in The Hundred 2025
Several top players have switched teams, including Marcus Stoinis joining Trent Rockets and Meg Lanning signing with Oval Invincibles. Rashid Khan and England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt have also moved to Invincibles, strengthening their squad for 2025.
Trent Boult has joined Birmingham Phoenix, while David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen were picked by Northern Superchargers and Manchester Originals. With 68 spots still available, teams will finalize their squads in The Hundred draft scheduled for March 12. A wildcard draft will follow in May, giving in-form domestic players a final opportunity.
The Hundred’s Growing Value in English Cricket
Oval Invincibles secured the men’s title in 2024, while London Spirit claimed the women’s championship. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recently facilitated the sale of franchise stakes, valuing all eight teams at over £975 million. This deal generated £520 million, which will be reinvested into the development of English cricket.
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