After five years of The Hundred and with no titles in either the men’s or the women’s competitions, is this the year Welsh Fire can dream?
Welsh Fire are one of three franchises, alongside Manchester Super Giants and Birmingham Phoenix, who are yet to taste glory in The Hundred in either the men’s or women’s competition.
But March’s player auctions have provided the chance for a fresh start for Welsh Fire, who are the worst performing franchise in the competition’s history.
With large sums of money bid and some very high-profile names signed, there is cause for optimism for Welsh Fire to turn around last year’s dismal display.
So what has changed this year to suggest a change in fortunes is on the horizon?
Big names for big money
Former England captain Joe Root was one of the most high-profile names to be drafted
Welsh Fire spent heavily – and early – on batters in Thursday’s men’s auction picking up former England Test captain Joe Root (£240,000) and Jordan Cox (£300,000).
Root is second on the all-time Test run scorers list with 41 centuries to his name, behind only Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar.
While the format of The Hundred is vastly different to Test match cricket, Joe Root is sure to catch the eye in the Welsh capital, where his brother Billy has played for Glamorgan since 2019.
Cox topped the batting charts with 367 runs and 22 sixes in last year’s competition as Oval Invincibles finished top of the standings.
His impressive displays for the Invincibles last year earned him the title of MVP (most valuable player).
Tech billionaire Sanjay Govil spent big in the auction, having bought a 50% share of Welsh Fire for £40m during last year’s sales of The Hundred franchises.
The Indian-American IT entrepreneur is hoping to emulate the success of his Major League Cricket franchise, the Washington Freedom.
For the women’s team, Welsh Fire snapped up former New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, who commanded a fee of £210,000 – the joint highest in the auction alongside Australian wicketkeeper Beth Mooney, who joined Trent Rockets.
Devine led the White Ferns to T20 World Cup glory against South Africa in 2024, and holds the record of fastest half-century in a women’s T20 international thanks to her 18-ball effort against India in 2015.
With former captain Tammy Beaumont signing for Birmingham Phoenix, there will be a new skipper for the team too.
Having joined Welsh Fire in a dual role which will see him work as women’s head coach as well as helping with recruitment, Michael Klinger has had a big role in crafting the side he will lead.