The Hundred, English cricket's vibrant and fast-paced franchise competition, is gearing up for another explosive season, and the first major step is the player auction. On Wednesday and Thursday, the eight men's teams will battle it out in a draft to fill their squads for the 2024 edition. BBC Sport breaks down exactly what the Hundred auction is and how the unique process works.
What is The Hundred Auction?
The Hundred auction, officially termed "The Draft," is the primary mechanism through which the eight men's teams—Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, and Welsh Fire—construct their playing rosters. Unlike traditional auctions with open bidding, The Hundred employs a snake draft system. This means the team with the first pick in one round gets the last pick in the next, ensuring a balanced distribution of talent.
The women's teams do not have a draft; their squads are assembled through a combination of retention and direct signings. The men's draft is a televised event, creating a spectacle of strategy, surprise picks, and big-money moves as teams vie for the world's best T20 talent. As one team director put it, "The draft is where seasons are made. One strategic pick can transform your team's fortunes."
How Does The Draft Process Work?
The process is governed by a strict set of rules and a clear order. Teams enter the draft with a set number of vacant spots in their 15-player squads, having already retained a core group of players from the previous season. Each squad must contain at least one England "centrally contracted" Test player and can have a maximum of four overseas players, with only three permitted in the playing XI.
The draft order for the first round is determined by the previous season's final standings, but with a crucial twist: the team that finished last gets the first pick, promoting competitive balance. The order then "snakes" back in the subsequent round.
- Round 1 Order (2024): Welsh Fire (8th), London Spirit (7th), Manchester Originals (6th), Oval Invincibles (5th), Birmingham Phoenix (4th), Northern Superchargers (3rd), Trent Rockets (2nd), Southern Brave (1st).
Each pick must also adhere to a salary band structure. Players are slotted into specific salary brackets, and teams must manage their total budget of £1 million. The bands for 2024 are:
- £125,000 (Top pick, Round 1)
- £100,000
- £75,000
- £60,000
- £50,000
- £40,000
- £30,000
- £25,000
The "Right-to-Match" Card Wildcard
A fascinating strategic element is the "Right-to-Match" (RTM) card. Each team is awarded one RTM card, which they can use at any point during the draft. If a player from their previous season's squad is selected by another team, the original team can "match" that offer and reclaim the player at the same salary. This adds a layer of depth to team strategy, forcing managers to decide whether to use their card early on a star or hold it for a crucial role-player later. "The RTM card is a game of poker within the draft," noted a former coach.
Who Are The Big Names in the 2024 Draft?
The 2024 draft pool is stacked with international superstars, headlined by several of the world's most explosive T20 players. Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins and dynamic all-rounder Glenn Maxwell are among the top-bracket (£125k) entrants. They are joined by West Indies power-hitter Nicholas Pooran and New Zealand's newly-retired Black Caps captain, the versatile Tim Southee.
Other notable overseas players entering the draft include Afghanistan's charismatic spinner Rashid Khan (though his participation may depend on recovery from injury), Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis, and South African speedster Kagiso Rabada. The presence of such high-calibre talent ensures fierce bidding wars.
Key Strategies and Team Priorities
With only 16 first-round slots (two per team) at the highest salary, team directors must be precise. Strategies often revolve around filling specific gaps: a death-bowling specialist, a powerplay hitter, or a world-class spinner. The retention process, which happens before the draft, sets the stage. A team that retained a star opener might use their first pick on a finisher.
The management of overseas slots is critical. Securing a marquee overseas player early provides a cornerstone, but leaves fewer slots for balancing the squad. Some teams may opt for a "moneyball" approach, spreading their budget across several quality £60k-£75k players rather than splurging on a single £125k star. As one analyst observed, "The most successful drafts aren't about getting the biggest names, but about building the most coherent team."
What Happens After the Draft?
Once the draft concludes, teams will have their core 15-player squads. However, the team-building process isn't entirely over. Teams can later sign replacements for any players who become unavailable due to injury or international duty. Furthermore, a "wildcard" pick system allows each team to add one additional domestic player after the Vitality Blast T20 competition concludes, based on performances in that tournament.
The women's teams, meanwhile, will continue to build through retention and signing windows, with many of the world's best female cricketers already secured by their franchises. The combined men's and women's draft event underscores The Hundred's commitment to showcasing both games on an equal platform.
Conclusion: The Draft's Significance
The Hundred auction is more than just a player allocation system; it is a cornerstone of the competition's identity. Its transparent, snake-draft format creates inherent drama and a clear path for team building that fans can follow. It forces strategic decision-making under a strict salary cap, mirroring popular franchise leagues worldwide. The event generates crucial pre-season buzz, turning squad announcements into a must-watch spectacle that sets the narrative for the month-long tournament to come.
As the eight team directors prepare their draft boards, the stakes are high. A single pick can define a campaign. The process, with its RTM cards, salary bands, and snake-order tension, ensures that every selection counts. When the final pick is made, the blueprint for the 2024 Hundred season will be complete, and the countdown to the first ball will officially begin.