The next T20 Cricket World Cup tournament will take place in just a few months time and the upcoming Hundred tournament will give hopeful stars a chance to shine as they bid for a spot on the plane to Australia.
The last T20 World Cup took place just last autumn and England reached the semi-finals before coming up short to New Zealand but with new management and new captaincy, Jos Buttler will hope he can lead the squad one or even two steps further.
What better way to assess what one’s options are than with a domestic tournament featuring international stars? The former white-ball captain Eoin Morgan recently stated that the Hundred would be the perfect opportunity for those on the ECB’s periphery to prove their worth ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Morgan said: “(The Hundred) is the closest I have ever played at domestic level to international cricket.
“All the major playing nations around the world have had established links with limited-format tournaments that our domestic players have done their utmost to play in to better their careers and ultimately to try and learn and become better players to play international cricket.”
There will be competition aplenty for spots in the T20 World Cup squad but here are a few who will all be using the explosive Hundred in a bid to show off ahead of World Cup selection.
5. Liam Dawson - Southern Brave
Dawson was on the reserves for the T20 World Cup last year and will be hopeful of securing a more permanent place when this year comes around. Dawson provides a useful left-arm leg spin option as well as being a useful middle-order bat. | Getty Images
6. Matt Parkinson - Manchester Originals
Parkinson is a consistent and impressive wicket-taker on the county circuit and excelled at last year’s The Hundred. He is often criticised for being too slow but will hope his figures speak for themselves when it comes to World Cup selection. | Getty Images
7. Harry Brook - Northern Superchargers
2022 seemed to be the year of Harry Brook but for some unknown reason he kept missing out on selection for England’s playing XI. With everything to gain and nothing to lose, Brook will hope he can show the ECB what they are missing at this year’s The Hundred. | Getty Images
8. Phil Salt - Manchester Originals
Salt made his international debut in 2021 and has since gone from strength to strength. He did not make the cut at last year’s World Cup but after exhibiting his talent in recent T20 and ODI series, Salt will hope to confirm his spot at this year’s tournament when the Hundred comes around | Getty Images