2021 The Hundred season

2019

Each squad was initially made up of 15 players, of whom a maximum of three could be overseas players.

For the men's competition, each franchise could choose one centrally contracted England Test player, with first refusal granted to franchises whose affiliated counties had one or more centrally contracted players in their squads.

Trent Rockets, London Spirit and Welsh Fire, having no centrally contracted players at their affiliated counties, were then allowed to select from the remaining England players.^[9][10]

For the men's teams, each franchise could choose two "local icons", high-profile players who represented one of their affiliated counties.^[11]

For the women's teams, each franchise had two centrally contracted players.

On 3 October 2019 the first players to be allocated to teams were announced.^[12] They were as follows:

Players for the women's teams were selected between October and 2019 and May 2020, with three player pools established: the remaining England centrally contracted players, overseas players and domestic players.

Teams were allowed a maximum of three centrally contracted players and three overseas players.^[13]

Players for the men's teams were signed using a draft system common in other franchise leagues. The draft took place on 20 October 2019 at Sky Studios in Osterley.^[14] Sky Sports and BBC Sport showed the event live.^[15][16]

2021

The delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the squads.

Women's teams were less affected because they had had no draft: squads had been built in waves of signings,^[17] and were not complete when the pandemic hit. There was little movement among domestic players, as they were allowed to roll over their contracts,^[18] but by July 2021, fourteen overseas players had withdrawn.^{[19][AI-retrieved source]}

With regards to the men's teams, changes to England's central contracts in 2020 forced squad changes. Jonny Bairstow lost his contract, so Ollie Pope became Welsh Fire's centrally contracted player, although Bairstow stayed with the side. Elsewhere, Essex's Zak Crawley became London Spirit's centrally contracted player, meaning Rory Burns moved to the Oval Invincibles, the franchise affiliated with his county Surrey. Both the Invincibles and Birmingham Phoenix were given permission to have two centrally contracted players.^[20]

In February 2021, teams were given the option to retain or release the players they had drafted in 2019, and took very different approaches. Trent Rockets, Southern Brave and London Spirit kept almost the entirety of the 15-man squads they had drafted in 2019, while Welsh Fire released half of their players and Manchester Originals kept only five.

A total of thirty-five players were released. In some cases this was due to the availability of foreign stars or the changing fortunes of local players, but Brexit was also a factor in this reshuffling. Players who had qualified as "local players" under Kolpak registrations were suddenly "overseas players", meaning eleven of them were released.^[21]

The pandemic also meant the men's salaries were reduced by 20%.^[22]

Squads were completed in July 2021, with each team being allowed a wildcard pick: a player who had performed well in the T20 Blast.^[23] They were as follows:

• Birmingham Phoenix - Dillon Pennington (Worcestershire)
• London Spirit - Blake Cullen (Middlesex)
• Manchester Originals - Fred Klaassen (Kent)
• Northern Superchargers - Ben Raine (Durham)
• Oval Invincibles - Jordan Cox (Kent)
• Southern Brave - Jake Lintott (Warwickshire)
• Trent Rockets - Sam Cook (Essex)
• Welsh Fire - Leus du Plooy (Derbyshire)

Women

  advances to the Final
  advances to the Eliminator

Men

  advances to the Final
  advances to the Eliminator

Women

Men

Women

Men

Most runs

Most wickets