The much-anticipated The Hundred Auction 2026 has officially concluded, bringing major changes to England’s unique 100-ball cricket tournament. For the first time in the competition’s history, teams assembled their squads through a full auction rather than the traditional draft system.
The new format created intense bidding wars among franchises as they competed to sign top international stars and promising young players. Several big names were picked up during the event, while emerging all-rounder James Coles became the most expensive player of the auction.
With eight teams participating — Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Super Giants, SunRisers Leeds, MI London, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, and Welsh Fire — the auction reshaped team strategies ahead of the upcoming season.
Open Auction System Introduced in The Hundred for the First Time
Since its launch in 2021, The Hundred had used a draft system for player recruitment. However, The Hundred Auction 2026 marked the first time an open bidding process was introduced.
The auction format allowed teams to directly compete for players, similar to major franchise leagues around the world. This new system added excitement and unpredictability, with franchises carefully planning their strategies to build balanced squads.
The first bid of the auction was placed on England’s experienced batter Joe Root, who was eventually signed by Welsh Fire. His addition is expected to strengthen the team’s batting lineup and provide leadership during crucial moments.
James Coles Becomes the Most Expensive Player
One of the biggest highlights of The Hundred Auction 2026 was the signing of young all-rounder James Coles, who became the most expensive player of the event.
At just 21 years old, Coles attracted strong interest from multiple teams because of his impressive performances in domestic cricket. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball made him a valuable asset for franchises looking to strengthen their squads.
His record-breaking deal reflects how teams are increasingly investing in versatile young players who can make an impact across multiple seasons.
David Miller Becomes the First Overseas Player Sold
South African star David Miller became the first overseas cricketer sold during The Hundred Auction 2026. The experienced left-handed batter was signed by Southern Brave for £110,000, adding explosive power to their middle order.
Another major international signing was Aiden Markram, the captain of South Africa’s T20I team. He was picked up by Manchester Super Giants, strengthening their already strong batting lineup.
Markram’s signing also means he will represent the same ownership group across three major franchise leagues, as he already plays for them in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and SA20.
Teams Participating in The Hundred 2026
The tournament features eight franchises representing different regions of England and Wales.
| Team | City/Region |
|---|---|
| Birmingham Phoenix | Birmingham |
| London Spirit | London |
| Manchester Super Giants | Manchester |
| SunRisers Leeds | Leeds |
| MI London | London |
| Southern Brave | Southampton |
| Trent Rockets | Nottingham |
| Welsh Fire | Cardiff |
Each franchise entered The Hundred Auction with the goal of building a balanced squad combining experienced international players and emerging domestic talent.
Southern Brave Full Squad
Retained / Direct Signings
Jamie Smith
Marcus Stoinis
Tristan Stubbs
Jofra Archer
Players Bought in The Hundred Auction
Chris Jordan
Adil Rashid
David Miller
Luke Wood
Ben McKinney
Thomas Rew
Michael Pepper
Tom Abell
Dan Worrall
Caleb Falzon
Nikhil Chaudhary
Southern Brave strengthened their bowling attack with Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan while adding finishing power through David Miller.
Trent Rockets Full Squad
Retained / Direct Signings
Tim David
Ben Duckett
Mitchell Santner
Tom Banton
Players Bought in The Hundred Auction
Finn Allen
Lewis Gregory
Craig Overton
David Payne
Dan Mousley
Matt Henry
Sam Billings
Aneurin Donald
Ben Mike
Danny Briggs
Lewis Kimber
Brad Currie
Trent Rockets focused on strengthening both their batting depth and pace attack.
MI London Full Squad
Retained / Direct Signings
Will Jacks
Rashid Khan
Sam Curran
Nicholas Pooran
Players Bought in The Hundred Auction
Trent Boult
Tom Curran
Nathan Sowter
James Vince
Sherfane Rutherford
Richard Gleeson
Ollie Pope
Olly Stone
Ollie Sykes
Callum Parkinson
Jason Roy
MI London now features one of the most balanced squads in the league with world-class players across departments.
London Spirit Full Squad
Retained / Direct Signings
Dewald Brevis
Liam Livingstone
Adam Zampa
Jamie Overton
Players Bought in The Hundred Auction
Jonny Bairstow
Lhuan-dre Pretorius
James Coles
Mason Crane
Adam Milne
David Willey
Adam Hose
Tymal Mills
James Rew
Matt Fisher
London Spirit made headlines by securing James Coles, the most expensive signing of The Hundred Auction 2026.
Welsh Fire Full Squad
Retained / Direct Signings
Marco Jansen
Phil Salt
Rachin Ravindra
Chris Woakes
Players Bought in The Hundred Auction
Jordan Cox
Tom Kohler-Cadmore
Joe Root
Ben Kellaway
Lockie Ferguson
Asa Tribe
Tom Aspinwall
Matt Short
Sam Cook
Zafar Chohan
The addition of Joe Root and Lockie Ferguson gives Welsh Fire both batting stability and bowling firepower.
Birmingham Phoenix Full Squad
Retained / Direct Signings
Rehan Ahmed
Donovan Ferreira
Mitchell Owen
Jacob Bethell
Players Bought in The Hundred Auction
Joe Clarke
Saqib Mahmood
Usman Tariq
Will Smeed
Jordan Thompson
Scott Currie
Laurie Evans
Chris Wood
Ethan Brookes
Mustafizur Rahman
Mustafizur Rahman’s inclusion adds international experience to Birmingham Phoenix’s pace attack.
SunRisers Leeds Full Squad
Retained / Direct Signings
Nathan Ellis
Mitchell Marsh
Harry Brook
Brydon Carse
Players Bought in The Hundred Auction
Abrar Ahmed
Benny Howell
Daniel Lawrence
Tom Lawes
Matthew Potts
Tom Alsop
Zak Crawley
Ryan Rickelton
Liam Patterson-White
Ed Barnard
Reece Topley
SunRisers Leeds focused on strengthening their bowling depth along with adding top-order batting options.
Manchester Super Giants Full Squad
Retained / Direct Signings
Noor Ahmad
Jos Buttler
Heinrich Klaasen
Liam Dawson
Players Bought in The Hundred Auction
Gus Atkinson
Sonny Baker
Luc du Plooy
Tom Hartley
Aiden Markram
Josh Tongue
Tim Seifert
Tom Moores
Max Holden
Tawanda Muyeye
George Scrimshaw
Paul Walter
With players like Jos Buttler, Heinrich Klaasen, and Aiden Markram, Manchester Super Giants have assembled one of the most powerful batting units in the tournament.
The Hundred 2026 Season Promises High Competition
With The Hundred Auction 2026 now completed, excitement for the upcoming season has reached a new level. The introduction of the auction system has added greater transparency and competitiveness to team building.
The combination of international stars, experienced domestic players, and emerging young talents ensures that fans can expect thrilling matches throughout the tournament.
As teams finalize their preparations and strategies, the next edition of The Hundred promises to deliver intense competition, unforgettable performances, and a new chapter in the evolution of franchise cricket.
