Welsh Fire

Welsh Fire
Tân Cymreig
Personnel
Captain	Jonny Bairstow ; (men's team) ; Sophie Luff ; (women's team)
Coach	Gary Kirsten ; (men's team) ; Matthew Mott ; (women's team)
Overseas player(s)	James Neesham ; Glenn Phillips ; Qais Ahmad ; (men's team) ; Piepa Cleary ; Hayley Matthews ; Georgia Redmayne ; (women's team)
Team information
Colours
Founded	2019
Home ground	Sophia Gardens
Capacity	16,000
History
No. of titles	0
The Hundred title wins	0
The Hundred game wins	5; (Men's team: 3); (Women's team: 2)
Official website	Welsh Fire

Welsh Fire (Welsh: Tân Cymreig) are a franchise 100-ball cricket side based in the city of Cardiff. The team represents the historic counties of Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Somerset in the newly founded competition called The Hundred,^[1] which will take place for the first time during the 2021 English and Welsh cricket season. Both the men's and women's team will play at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff for their home games.

History[]

Sophia Gardens in Cardiff

The announcement of the new eight-team men's and women's tournament series in 2019 was not without controversy, with the likes of Virat Kohli criticising the England and Wales Cricket Board for pursuing a shift away from Test cricket,^[2] while others argued the format should have followed the established and successful Twenty20 format. However, the ECB decided it needed a unique format to draw crowds.

It was announced in June 2019 that the side would be named the Welsh Fire, and would be joint run by Glamorgan as well as Somerset and Gloucestershire County Cricket Clubs. It would draw on players from the three counties in the inaugural draft.^[3] It had been reported that the side might rename to Western Fire, to allay concerns in Somerset and Gloucester that they were not sufficiently represented by the side, but this did not come to fruition.^[4]

In July 2019 the side announced that former South Africa and India coach, and current Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Gary Kirsten as the men's team coach.^[5] The women's side will be managed by Matthew Mott, a former Glamorgan coach and the current Australia women's national cricket team coach.

The inaugural Hundred draft took place in October 2019 and saw the Fire claim Jonny Bairstow as their headline men's draftee, and Katie George as the women's headliner. They are joined by Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Banton, Glamorgan batsman Colin Ingram, and England batter Bryony Smith.^[6]

Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc were selected as the flagship £125,000 signings in the first round and are two of the side's three overseas stars, along with Afghanistan's Qais Ahmed.

With Colin Ingram and Tom Banton already occupying the £100,000 slots, Welsh Fire sat out the second round.

Ravi Rampaul and Ben Duckett were selected in the third round for £75,000 and Simon Harmer, along with Qais Ahmed, were bought for £60,000 in the fourth.

Liam Plunkett and Ryan ten Doeschate were the picks in the fifth round for £50,000 and Gloucestershire duo David Payne and Ryan Higgins were selected in the sixth round for £40,000.

Danny Briggs and Leus du Plooy complete the squad, having both been bought for £30,000 in the final round.

The final place in the squad will go to an outstanding performer in next season's Vitality Blast 20-over competition.

Australian Meg Lanning was the next pick for the ladies' team.

Honours[]

Men's honours[]

The Hundred

7th place: 2021 (highest finish)

Women's honours[]

The Hundred

8th place: 2021 (highest finish)

Ground[]

The ground's main entrance

Both the Fire men's and women's sides play at the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground, in the west of Cardiff city centre. The women's side had been due to play some matches at Gloucestershire's Bristol County Ground and Somerset's County Ground, Taunton but both teams were brought together at the same ground as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Players[]

Current squad[]

Men's side[]

Bold denotes players with international caps.
* denotes a player who is unavailable for rest of the season.

S/N	Name	Date of birth (age)	Batting style	Bowling style	Notes
Batsmen
1	Ian Cockbain	(1987-02-17) 17 February 1987 (age 34)	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
17	Ben Duckett	(1994-10-17) 17 October 1994 (age 26)	Left-handed	—
18	Tom Banton	(1998-11-11) 11 November 1998 (age 22)	Right-handed	—
76	Leus du Plooy	(1995-01-12) 12 January 1995 (age 26)	Left-handed	Slow left-arm orthodox	Wildcard pick; EU passport
—	Ollie Pope	(1998-01-02) 2 January 1998 (age 23)	Right-handed	—	Centrally contracted
All-rounders
4	Josh Cobb	(1990-08-17) 17 August 1990 (age 31)	Right-handed	Right-arm off break
20	Matt Critchley	(1996-08-13) 13 August 1996 (age 25)	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break
29	Ryan Higgins	(1995-01-06) 6 January 1995 (age 26)	Right-handed	Right-arm fast-medium
50	James Neesham	(1990-09-17) 17 September 1990 (age 30)	Left-handed	Right-arm fast-medium	Overseas player
73	David Lloyd	(1992-06-15) 15 June 1992 (age 29)	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
Wicketkeepers
23	Glenn Phillips	(1996-12-06) 6 December 1996 (age 24)	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	Overseas player
51	Jonny Bairstow	(1989-09-26) 26 September 1989 (age 31)	Right-handed	—	Captain
Pace bowlers
7	David Payne	(1991-02-15) 15 February 1991 (age 30)	Right-handed	Left-arm fast-medium
8	Matt Milnes	(1994-07-29) 29 July 1994 (age 27)	Right-handed	Right-arm fast-medium	Replacement player
14	Jake Ball	(1991-03-14) 14 March 1991 (age 30)	Right-handed	Right-arm fast-medium
19	Luke Fletcher	(1988-09-18) 18 September 1988 (age 32)	Right-handed	Right-arm fast-medium	Replacement player
28	Liam Plunkett	(1985-04-06) 6 April 1985 (age 36)	Right-handed	Right-arm fast-medium
Spin bowlers
30	Qais Ahmad	(2000-08-15) 15 August 2000 (age 21)	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break	Overseas player
87	Graeme White	(1987-04-18) 18 April 1987 (age 34)	Right-handed	Slow left-arm orthodox	Replacement player

Women's side[]

Bold denotes players with international caps.
* denotes a player who is unavailable for rest of the season.

S/N	Name	Date of birth (age)	Batting style	Bowling style	Notes
Batters
63	Sophie Luff	(1993-12-06) 6 December 1993 (age 27)	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Captain
All-rounders
44	Alice Macleod	(1994-05-14) 14 May 1994 (age 27)	Right-handed	Right-arm off break
50	Hayley Matthews	(1998-03-19) 19 March 1998 (age 23)	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	Overseas player
64	Georgia Hennessy	(1996-11-04) 4 November 1996 (age 24)	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
Wicketkeepers
7	Nat Wraith	(2001-10-03) 3 October 2001 (age 19)	Right-handed	—
8	Georgia Redmayne	(1993-12-08) 8 December 1993 (age 27)	Left-handed	—	Overseas player
30	Sarah Taylor	(1989-05-20) 20 May 1989 (age 32)	Right-handed	—
Pace bowlers
17	Piepa Cleary	(1996-07-17) 17 July 1996 (age 25)	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Overseas player
25	Alex Griffiths	(2002-06-12) 12 June 2002 (age 19)	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
99	Katie George	(1999-04-07) 7 April 1999 (age 22)	Left-handed	Left-arm medium	Centrally contracted
—	Lauren Filer	(2000-12-22) 22 December 2000 (age 20)	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
—	Amy Gordon	(2001-10-03) 3 October 2001 (age 19)	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
Spin bowlers
2	Nicole Harvey	(1992-09-18) 18 September 1992 (age 28)	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break
3	Hannah Baker	(2004-02-03) 3 February 2004 (age 17)	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break
4	Bryony Smith	(1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 (age 23)	Right-handed	Right-arm off break

References[]

^ "The Hundred: Team-by-team guides, coach details and venues". Sporting Life. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
^ sport, The Guardian (28 August 2018). "Virat Kohli gives ECB's 100-ball 'experiment' the thumbs down". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
^ "Cardiff Hundred team may drop 'Welsh' from name in favour of 'Western Fire'". ESPN.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
^ "Cardiff Hundred team may drop 'Welsh' from name in favour of 'Western Fire'". ESPN.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
^ www.uprisevsi.co.uk, upriseVSI. "England and Local Cricket Stars Align for Welsh Fire". Glamorgan Cricket. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
^ "The Hundred: Central contract and local icon 'drafts' explained". ESPNcricinfo. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.

External links[]

Official web page at Glamorgan Cricket Club

[1] "The Hundred: Team-by-team guides, coach details and venues". Sporting Life. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

[2] sport, The Guardian (28 August 2018). "Virat Kohli gives ECB's 100-ball 'experiment' the thumbs down". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 October 2019.

[3] "Cardiff Hundred team may drop 'Welsh' from name in favour of 'Western Fire'". ESPN.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.

[4] "Cardiff Hundred team may drop 'Welsh' from name in favour of 'Western Fire'". ESPN.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.

[5] www.uprisevsi.co.uk, upriseVSI. "England and Local Cricket Stars Align for Welsh Fire". Glamorgan Cricket. Retrieved 4 October 2019.

[6] "The Hundred: Central contract and local icon 'drafts' explained". ESPNcricinfo. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.

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show v t The Hundred (cricket competition)
Organisation	England and Wales Cricket Board The Hundred 100-ball cricket
Teams	Birmingham Phoenix London Spirit Manchester Originals Northern Superchargers Oval Invincibles Southern Brave Trent Rockets Welsh Fire
Seasons	2021
Players	Birmingham Phoenix London Spirit Manchester Originals Northern Superchargers Oval Invincibles Southern Brave Trent Rockets Welsh Fire

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The Hundred teams (8) (Men and Women)	Birmingham Phoenix London Spirit Manchester Originals Northern Superchargers Oval Invincibles Southern Brave Trent Rockets Welsh Fire
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