Issy Wong, Gwen Davies and Thea Brookes have been confirmed as retained for the 2021 Birmingham Phoenix women's squad today, bringing the total number of Central Sparks players in the squad up to 8.
Issy Wong said: “It’s fantastic to join Birmingham Phoenix and to have the opportunity to represent my home city in this first season of The Hundred.
“The tournament is going to be such a great spectacle and being able to play all of our home games at Edgbaston, as double headers, is something that I can’t wait for.
“It’s a ground that I’ve been coming to for training and to watch games with my family since my early years, so I’m hoping that we can make a great fortress for the Phoenix in the months ahead.”
Birmingham Phoenix are one of eight new teams taking part in The Hundred, a new 100-ball competition that is designed to throw open cricket’s doors to everyone. Boasting world class men’s and women’s players, it will take place this summer and feature eight city-based teams from Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Southampton and two in London. It will be screened live by Sky and the BBC.
Birmingham Phoenix General Manager Craig Flindall said: “We’re thrilled to secure Issy, Gwen and Thea within our women’s squad, who all know what it takes to win a trophy given their success with the Birmingham Bears.
Issy’s pace has made her one of the most talked about fast bowlers in the women’s game and she’ll gain a huge amount from travelling to New Zealand with the England squad. Gwen and Thea are also exciting players who could play a huge role for the Phoenix in this inaugural tournament.”
The team will be captained by New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine, and feature international stars like Ashleigh Gardener alongside Central Sparks players.