Birmingham Bears
Captain: Alex Davies
Abroad gamers: Tom Latham (New Zealand, full competitors), Hasan Ali (Pakistan, availability tbc)
Finals Day appearances: 4 (2003, 2014, 2015, 2017)
Titles: One (2014)
2024 end: Quarter-finals
2024 main run scorer: Sam Hain (569)
2024 main wicket taker: Danny Briggs (29)
Key winter strikes: It was all change off the sector throughout the shut season however the Bears’ T20 facet on the sector is more likely to be little modified past the arrival of New Zealand batter Tom Latham. Aussie all-rounder Beau Webster was initially signed for the Blast however has been referred to as up by his nationwide staff.
The large query: After 4 successive quarter-final defeats, the large query among the many Bears’ followers is can they overcome the nerves of massive knockout video games? Clearing the reminiscence of final yr’s quarter-final implosion towards Gloucestershire at Edgbaston, after they didn’t chase 138, will certainly be a driving drive.
Wildcard watch: Ethan Bamber. Quick-format cricket thrives on exuberance and Bamber has it by the bucketload. An attacking participant with ball or bat, he makes issues occur and has infectious power within the area. Bamber moved from Middlesex to Warwickshire to kick-start his profession and the early indicators are he has executed precisely that.
Ultimate thought: There may be a lot discuss of the quarter-final hoodoo however numerous exhausting work stays forward earlier than that even turns into a difficulty, The Bears have scintillated at occasions within the group stage lately solely to then falter. To succeed in a fifth profitable quarter-final can be a notable effort in itself…then they’ll attempt to get their heads around the hoodoo!
Derbyshire Falcons
Captain: Samit Patel
Abroad gamers: Caleb Jewell (Australia, all group stage), Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar (Afghanistan, all group stage), Blair Tickner (New Zealand, all group stage)
Finals Day appearances: One
Titles: None
2024 end: Sixth (North Group)
2024 main runscorer: Wayne Madsen (336)
2024 main wicket taker: Pat Brown (22)
Key winter strikes: Jewell offers each high quality on the prime of the order and a profitable mentality after he helped Hobart Hurricanes carry the Large Bash trophy for the primary time final winter. Martin Andersson was prime scorer for Middlesex in final yr’s Blast and the all-rounder is about to play a key position for the Falcons this summer time.
The large query: Can the Falcons recover from the road in 2025? They fell on the ultimate hurdle up to now two seasons when victory would have secured a spot within the knock-out phases. The present squad appears to be like spectacular and can count on to be among the many entrance runners in what’s historically a aggressive North Group.
Wildcard watch: For a 19-year-old, Ghazanfar has already made an enormous impression in white-ball cricket. The fitting arm off-spinner can flip the ball each methods and was named within the ICC Males’s ODI staff of the yr in 2024. For a participant who is claimed to have “the world at his toes,” he may very well be one of many stars of the event.
Ultimate thought: If expertise counts, the Falcons might go deep into the competitors with 5 of the squad tasting T20 success at house and overseas whereas Wayne Madsen and Zak Chappell have been a part of the Rangpur Riders staff coached by Derbyshire’s head of cricket Mickey Arthur that gained the International Tremendous League in December. Patel, Brown and Ross Whiteley are previous Blast winners whereas Jewell and Ghazanfar might assist the Falcons soar.
Durham
Captain: Alex Lees
Abroad gamers: David Bedingham (South Africa, full competitors alongside South Africa commitments), Zak Foulkes (New Zealand, all group stage), Jimmy Neesham (New Zealand, full competitors), Codi Yusuf (South Africa, all group stage).
Finals Day appearances: Two (2008, 2016)
Titles: None
2024 end: Quarter-finals
2024 main runscorer: Graham Clark (322)
2024 main wicket taker: Ben Raine (21)
Key winter strikes: Batter David Bedingham’s availability will likely be restricted attributable to South African Check commitments, together with the World Check Championship ultimate towards Australia. However Durham have recruited Kiwis Zak Foulkes and Jimmy Neesham and all-rounder Codi Yusuf from South Africa. Two can play at anyone time, so relaxation and rotation will come into play. Sam Conners, Emilio Homosexual and Will Rhodes have been home signings forward of the summer time.
The large query: Will Durham comply with Gloucestershire’s lead and safe a primary Blast title? Glos gained this competitors for the primary time in 2024, taking the variety of counties by no means to have triumphed in T20 cricket all the way down to 4. Coach Ryan Campbell has assembled an thrilling wanting squad. Graham Clark, Nathan Sowter, captain Alex Lees and Jimmy Neesham all leap out on paper as key males.
Wildcard watch: Callum Parkinson. The left-arm spinner impressed with 18 wickets in final season’s run to the Blast quarter-finals, his first as a Durham participant following his transfer from Leicestershire. An up-and-at-you spinner whose change of tempo might be tough to fight. Spent the primary 4 years of The Hundred with the Northern Superchargers however was not retained for this summer time.
Ultimate thought: Ryan Campbell has banged the drum for leg-spinner Nathan Sowter in current seasons, believing he has the potential to play for England in white-ball cricket. Sowter has taken 43 wickets mixed up to now two Blast campaigns and brings an actual x-factor to Durham’s bowling assault. With a T20 World Cup developing in India and Sri Lanka throughout the early phases of subsequent yr, it is a significantly key marketing campaign for 32-year-old.
Lancashire Lightning
Captain: Keaton Jennings
Abroad gamers: Chris Inexperienced (Australia, all group stage), Ashton Turner (Australia, all group stage)
Finals Day appearances: 9 (2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022)
Titles: One (2015)
2024 end: Quarter-finals
2024 main runscorer: Keaton Jennings (278)
2024 main wicket taker: Chris Inexperienced (14)
Key winter strikes: Former Blast-winning captain Steven Croft referred to as time on his 250-game T20 profession final September to affix the coaching workers full-time, however Lancashire’s abroad recruitment has changed that have within the type of Australian all-rounders Chris Inexperienced and Ashton Turner. Inexperienced impressed final season and has signed a brand new two-year Blast deal. Dynamic Scotland batter Michael Jones has joined from Durham.
The large query: Will a change in format assist Lancashire construct momentum after a tough begin within the Rothesay County Championship? Halfway via this month, the Pink Rose dropped to the foot of Division Two, and Keaton Jennings stepped down as club captain. Nonetheless, releasing themselves up within the Blast might properly help their promotion bid throughout the second half of the summer time. Jennings stays in cost within the Blast.
Wildcard watch: Sir James Anderson. The England fast-bowling legend will likely be 43-years-old by the point The Hundred begins in August, however he has made himself accessible for the Blast as a result of he’s eager to have one other crack at T20 cricket, which he hasn’t performed since 2014. If he has success for the Lightning, absolutely groups will likely be clamouring for his signature.
Ultimate thought: No county has gained extra T20 matches than Lancashire because the begin of the Blast in 2003. The Lightning have gained 150 of the 260 matches they’ve performed, and they’re significantly sturdy at house. However they are going to be hoping to vary the important thing statistic, titles gained – 1. There can be no higher approach than to have fun the 10-year anniversary of their solely triumph, victory within the 2015 ultimate towards Northamptonshire at Edgbaston, than including to that quantity.
Leicestershire Foxes
Captain: Louis Kimber
Abroad gamers: Logan van Beek (Netherlands, full competitors), Shan Masood (Pakistan, full competitors)
Finals Day appearances: 5 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011)
Titles: Three (2004, 2006, 2011)
2024 end: Fifth (North Group)
2024 main runscorer: Rishi Patel (413)
2024 main wicket taker: Scott Currie (20)
Key winter strikes: With membership captain Peter Handscomb selecting to skip the Blast this season, the Foxes have turned to Pakistan worldwide Shan Masood to plug the hole of their batting left by the Australian’s absence. This would be the 35-year-old’s fifth consecutive Blast season together with his fourth county. One thing just like his 2022 marketing campaign for Derbyshire, which yielded 555 runs at 42.69, would swimsuit Leicestershire properly.
The large query: Will the left-field alternative of Louis Kimber as captain show to be an impressed transfer? Greatest recognized for smiting 243 off 127 balls towards Sussex in red-ball cricket final season, Kimber’s numbers in Blast cricket have been comparatively modest to this point. But he has the potential to be damaging on this format, and can have Masood’s management expertise to faucet into as he finds his approach as skipper.
Wildcard watch: Sol Budinger remains to be in search of consistency in his T20 recreation however a 25-ball fifty towards Yorkshire final season supplied a glimpse of his potential. By no means shy about taking over the brand new ball, he maintains a strike charge of round 80.00 even in red-ball cricket. An excellent eye and an instinctively explosive method appears to be like good for The Hundred’s all-action format.
Ultimate thought: The Foxes are flying in the intervening time following a sensational begin to the Rothesay County Championship that has them 31 factors clear on the prime of Division Two. The query is can they take that type into the T20 enviornment? They narrowly missed out on the quarter-finals final season and if they’ll snatch a number of early wins will then welcome again Rehan Ahmed and Josh Hull from England Males and England Lions duties.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Captain: David Willey
Abroad gamers: Matt Breetzke (South Africa, all group stage), Lloyd Pope (Australia, all group stage)
Finals Day appearances: 4 (2009, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Titles: Two (2013, 2016)
2024 end: Quarter-finals
2024 main runscorer: Matt Breetzke (460)
2024 main wicket taker: David Willey (16)
Key winter strikes: The Steelbacks moved shortly to re-sign two stars of final yr’s run to the quarter-finals, with main run scorer South African worldwide Matthew Breetzke and veteran England all-rounder Ravi Bopara each returning to Wantage Street. Leg-spinner Lloyd Pope, just lately named within the Large Bash Crew of the Event, joins after fellow Australian Ashton Agar was dominated out via harm.
The large query: Northamptonshire’s batting frailties have been a lot in proof throughout the Rothesay County Championship. Will the change in format and addition of skilled palms in Willey, Breetzke and Bopara encourage the crop of gifted younger weapons to fireplace? They are going to be buoyed by the wonderful type of Saif Zaib whose all-round contributions performed an essential position final summer time.
Wildcard watch: Younger fast Raphy Weatherall, a former England Beneath-19 star, confirmed maturity behind his years in his debut senior season final summer time and was entrusted with key overs within the Blast. Getting back from harm this season he has clearly placed on an additional yard of tempo and has brought on actual issues for opposition batters within the Championship.
Ultimate thought: Darren Lehmann and Willey make a formidable head coach and captain pairing with a wealth of worldwide and franchise trophies to their names and can look to mastermind a second consecutive Steelbacks run to the knockout phases. Bopara proved talismanic in 2024 with bat and ball and whereas Northamptonshire will miss Agar’s runs, they swiftly secured the harmful thriller spin of Pope in a like-for-like swap. Ben Sanderson’s accuracy and Weatherall and George Scrimshaw’s tempo add efficiency with the ball.
Notts Outlaws
Captain: Joe Clarke
Abroad gamers: Daniel Sams (Australia, full competitors), Moises Henriques (Australia, full competitors)
Finals Day appearances: Six (2006, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)
Titles: Two (2017, 2020)
2024 end: Ninth (North Group)
2024 main runscorer: Joe Clarke (306)
2024 main wicket taker: Olly Stone (15)
Key winter strikes: There will likely be no Alex Hales at Trent Bridge for the primary time in 17 seasons after the county’s 36-year-old all-time document runscorer opted to not return. However an Outlaws facet in transition will profit from having two skilled Australian all-rounders as abroad gamers in 32-year-old former Essex and Trent Rockets star Daniel Sams and 38-year-old Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques.
The large query: The Outlaws’ decline on this format was put in sharp focus by final season’s bottom-of-the-table end. Can their failings be corrected in 2025? Joe Clarke can have Henriques’s management abilities to faucet into in his second season as skipper however in addition to the lack of Hales, final season’s main wicket-taker Olly Stone will miss the event via harm.
Wildcard watch: Freddie McCann. The 20-year-old top-order batter, with three first-class centuries to his title already, made his Blast debut towards Yorkshire within the ultimate 2024 group match and had an instantaneous influence, hitting 44 from 32 balls in a uncommon Outlaws victory. If he will get the possibility to construct on that as Notts search a profitable mix he might properly catch somebody’s eye.
Ultimate thought: Is there a contact of again to the longer term concerning the signing of Henriques? Notts followers will hope the dynamic all-rounder carries a little bit of what his shut good friend and Large Bash-winning ex-Sydney Sixers teammate Dan Christian delivered to Trent Bridge when he led the Outlaws to Blast glory in 2017 and 2020.
Worcestershire Rapids
Captain: Brett D’Oliveira
Abroad gamers: Ben Dwarshuis (Australia, full competitors), Jacob Duffy (New Zealand, first eight matches)
Finals Day appearances: Two (2018, 2019)
Titles: One (2018)
2024 end: Eighth (North Group)
2024 main run-scorer: Ethan Brookes (321)
2024 main wicket-taker: Tom Taylor (17)
Key winter strikes: The Rapids have strengthened their bowling with abroad duo Jacob Duffy, who is offered for eight video games, and Ben Dwarshuis whereas Ben Allison has signed completely from Essex. Dwarshuis is a tried and examined T20 all-rounder, Duffy ought to hit the bottom operating after 4 spectacular Rothesay County Championship video games whereas Allison will likely be accessible this season so as to add additional depth to a helpful assault. Two-time Blast winner Josh Cobb left after a one-year white-ball contract.
The large query: Can they win the shut ones? T20 cricket is about wonderful margins and the Rapids realized that the exhausting approach final season. Their marketing campaign was placed on the skids by 4 successive losses by 11 runs or much less – after spectacular early wins towards Lancashire and Notts – and so they misplaced an additional three video games within the final over when defending. Bringing in veteran Dwarshuis to choose up the robust overs and provide some late hitting appears a intelligent piece of enterprise with that in thoughts.
Wildcard watch: Ethan Brookes. The 24-year-old confirmed his all-round high quality within the Blast final season to be the Rapids’ main runscorer whereas additionally chipping in with 11 wickets. His energy hitting was on full show within the Rothesay County Championship at Essex earlier this season when he smacked a quickfire 88 to virtually haul his facet over the road towards the percentages.
Ultimate thought: There’s clearly room for the Rapids to enhance on final season if they’ll win the shut ones and higher a house document that noticed them win simply twice at Go to Worcestershire New Street. Their assault appears to be like sturdy with Tom Taylor and Matt Waite sharing 54 wickets to begin the red-ball season and Allison taking 21. Add within the worldwide class of Dwarshuis and Duffy and there’s motive to be optimistic as long as the batters can put up higher numbers than final time period when solely Brookes previous 300 runs.
Yorkshire
Captain: Dawid Malan
Abroad gamers: Will O’Rourke (New Zealand, first eight group video games with potential extension), Will Sutherland (Australia, all group stage)
Finals Day appearances: Three (2012, 2016, 2022)
Titles: None
2024 end: Seventh place within the North Group
2024 main runscorer: Dawid Malan (420)
2024 main wicket taker: Jordan Thompson (20)
Key winter strikes: Whereas Yorkshire have recruited two thrilling abroad signings in all-rounder Will Sutherland and x-factor New Zealand quick bowler Will O’Rourke, the largest strikes have come within the management division. Membership legend Anthony McGrath returned as coach to interchange Ottis Gibson, whereas the duty of changing Shan Masood as captain was handed to Jonny Bairstow in red-ball cricket and Dawid Malan within the Blast.
The large query: Can Yorkshire lastly break their duck in T20 cricket? The White Rose, not the Vikings on this format, are one among solely 4 counties by no means to have gained the Blast, alongside Derbyshire, Durham and Glamorgan. With the standard of gamers they’ve had at their disposal down the years, that they’re a part of that statistic is a major shock.
Wildcard watch: James Wharton. Extra recognised as a top-order batter, however he has the ability to bat a bit additional down as properly and will, for instance, end an innings. He scored a superb 111 not out in a 2023 house win over Worcestershire. Yorkshire’s administration charge the 24-year-old extremely extremely, and consider he isn’t miles away from England honours.
Ultimate thought: Yorkshire’s squad appears to be like very properly balanced. Energy and poise with the bat, depth within the all-rounder choices, high quality spin and important tempo with the ball. The extended availability of Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan will likely be important, whereas it’s an enormous marketing campaign for the continued development of England fringe leg-spinner Jafer Chohan. Match once more seam-bowling all-rounder Matt Milnes (again stress fractures) will likely be like a brand new signing. To achieve success, Yorkshire should achieve the consistency their early-season Championship cricket has lacked.
