Welsh Fire

Welsh Fire (Welsh: Tân Cymreig) are a franchise 100-ball cricket side representing the Welsh county of Glamorgan as well as the English historic counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire. The side competes in the newly founded The Hundred competition for the 2020 English and Welsh cricket season. The men will play at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, while the women will play at Bristol County Ground and County Ground, Taunton.

Welsh Fire
Tân Cymreig
Personnel
CaptainTBA
(men's team)
TBC
(women's team)
Coach Gary Kirsten
(men's team)
Matthew Mott
(women's team)
Overseas player(s) Qais Ahmad
(men's team)
TBA
(women's team)
Team information
Colours   
Founded2019
Home groundSophia Gardens
Capacity16,000
History
No. of titles0
The Hundred title wins0
The Hundred game wins0
Official websiteWelsh Fire

History
See also: The Hundred (cricket)
SWALEC Stadium 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,[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] Kirsten is also rumoured to be in line to succeed Trevor Bayliss as England head 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.

Ground
The ground's main entrance
Main article: Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground

The Fire men's side play at the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground, in the west of Cardiff city centre. The women's side play at Gloucestershire's Bristol County Ground and Somerset's County Ground, Taunton.

Players

Men's side
  • Bold denotes players with international caps.
  •  *  denotes a player who is unavailable for rest of the season.
S/N Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Batting style Bowling style Notes
Batsmen
—Tom Banton (1998-11-11) 11 November 1998Right-handed—
—Ben Duckett (1994-10-17) 17 October 1994Left-handed—
—Ollie Pope (1998-01-02) 2 January 1998Right-handed—Centrally contracted
All-rounders
—Ryan Higgins (1995-01-06) 6 January 1995Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium
Wicketkeepers
—Jonny Bairstow (1989-09-26) 26 September 1989Right-handed—
Pace bowlers
—David Payne (1991-02-15) 15 February 1991Right-handedLeft-arm fast-medium
—Liam Plunkett (1985-04-06) 6 April 1985Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium
Spin bowlers
—Qais Ahmad (2000-08-15) 15 August 2000Right-handedRight-arm leg breakOverseas player

    Women's side
    • Bold denotes players with international caps.
    •  *  denotes a player who is unavailable for rest of the season.
    S/N Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Batting style Bowling style Notes
    Batsmen
    —Sophie Luff (1993-12-06) 6 December 1993Right-handedRight-arm medium
    All-rounders
    —Georgia Hennessy (1996-11-04) 4 November 1996Right-handedRight-arm medium
    Wicketkeepers
    —Natasha Wraith (2001-10-03) 3 October 2001Right-handed—
    Pace bowlers
    —Lauren Filer (2000-12-22) 22 December 2000Right-handedRight-arm medium
    —Katie George (1999-04-07) 7 April 1999Left-handedLeft-arm mediumCentrally contracted
    —Alex Griffiths (1993-09-06) 6 September 1993Right-handedRight-arm medium
    —Amy Gordon (2001-10-03) 3 October 2001Right-handedRight-arm medium
    Spin bowlers

      See also

        References
        1. 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.
        2. "Cardiff Hundred team may drop 'Welsh' from name in favour of 'Western Fire'". ESPN.com. 30 July 2019. 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. www.uprisevsi.co.uk, upriseVSI. "England and Local Cricket Stars Align for Welsh Fire". Glamorgan Cricket. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
        5. "Gary Kirsten favourite to succeed Trevor Bayliss as England head coach; to meet ECB today: Report". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
        6. "The Hundred: Central contract and local icon 'drafts' explained". ESPNcricinfo. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.

        Further reading
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