The Hundred franchises confirm releases and retentions ahead of draft

Salaries for the tournament are down by 20%, with a Round 1 pick earning £100,000 for the tournament, and a Round 7 pick taking £24,000.  

Oval Invincibles have released four players (West Indies’ Fabian Allen, former Kolpak South Africans Rilee Rossouw and Hardus Viljoen and seamer Hampshire’s) Chris Wood,  from their list. A strong core of Surrey players runs through the squad, which is set to be captained by the retained Sam Billings. They will be able to pick up one overseas player in the draft, where they have pickles 9, 12, 25 one 27.

London Spirit have just two spare spaces (picks 8 and 19), having kept everyone but Kyle Abbott – another former Kolpak who no longer qualifies as a local player – and Rory Burns, who has moved to Oval Invincibles. Spirit, who are coached by Shane Warne, have kept their top star, such as Maxwell and Mark Wood.

Ravi Bopara has left Birmingham Phoenix, who have three draft slots to fill (picks 5, 23 and 29). Harry Gurney and Luke Fletcher have been released by Trent Rockets, who will get two picks (16 and 33). And Southern Brave have two slots, including one overseas after the departure of Pakistan’s Shadab Khan.

Finally in the men’s competition, Ben Foakes is among five players who have left Northern Superchargers, who will have picks 14, 17, 22, 26 and 32.  

In the women’s competition, London Spirit have confirmed the retention of England’s Freya Davies, while Oval Invincibles have confirmed South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk.