Cricket Australia’s decision to exclude Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh from the Hundred is the latest setback for the event.
Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh were both scheduled to play for Trevor Bayliss’ London Spirit on contracts worth £125,000 (US$160,000), but they have been instructed to cancel in order to manage their workloads in advance of Australia’s preparations for the 50-over World Cup in India and the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the US next year.
“In discussions with both players it was agreed that with a long campaign ahead, including two World Cups, it’s in their best interests to be physically refreshed and at their best for the one-day World Cup and beyond,”
a Cricket Australia spokesperson told reporters.
“Both are also coming from recent injuries.”
Since several potential replacements have already committed to play in other leagues during the Hundred’s window of August 1-27, such as the Global T20 Canada, the Caribbean Premier League, or the Lanka Premier League, Spirit is left searching for two replacement foreign players in the month before the competition begins.
In its first two seasons, The Hundred had a difficult time securing top international players for the entire competition, and heading into the 2023 edition, teams are once again choosing star quality above star availability. A greater caliber of foreign players have gravitated toward the women’s competition.
Although the Hundred offers men’s players a fair amount of money, skill is in high demand. The highest earners in the Hundred make £125,000 for four weeks of work, although the majority of the best international players in Major League Cricket, which concludes right before the Hundred begins, make comparable sums for two weeks of play.
Due to the clash with the LPL, Wanindu Hasaranga, a second £125,000 signing, is also anticipated to withdraw from the competition. Manchester Originals has lined up Usama Mir to take his place, who has excelled for Worcestershire this summer but has not received a T20I cap for Pakistan.
The New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell has withdrew from the Northern Superchargers after rupturing his Achilles. He was scheduled to play for the team on a £75,000 deal. The leading run-scorer in the most recent BBL season, Matthew Short, is seen to be a candidate to take his spot.
The ‘wildcard’ draft for domestic signings was conducted virtually on Tuesday morning, although it was delayed by an hour because at least one team made an unsuccessful attempt to secure a replacement signing just before the draft.
The defending champion Trent Rockets selected and signed John Turner, a 22-year-old seamer who has had a breakout season for Hampshire.
In addition to landing a contract, Yorkshire legspinner Jafer Chohan, 20, also signed with Southern Brave as Rehan Ahmed’s backup.
Matt Parkinson, who took 11 wickets as Manchester Originals advanced to the final last year while he was also a member of England’s T20I team, was one of the notable exclusions from the wildcard pick.
Jake Lintott of Warwickshire and Ben Green of Somerset, who together have taken the joint-most wickets in this year’s Blast, were also passed through.
Hundred wildcard draft signings
Trent Rockets: John Turner, Tom Moores
Manchester Originals: Max Holden, Fred Klaassen
Oval Invincibles: Tawanda Muyeye, Zak Chappell
London Spirit: Matt Critchley, Daniel Bell-Drummond
Welsh Fire: Luke Wells, Chris Cooke
Northern Superchargers: Ollie Robinson, Saif Zaib
Birmingham Phoenix: Jacob Bethell, Henry Brookes
Southern Brave: Jafer Chohan, Matthew Fisher