Amy Jones to enter draft pool, with Smriti Mandhana absent from Southern Brave list

India internationals Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues are all notable absentees among the 61 retentions across eight teams

Reigning champions Southern Brave have retained just seven players from their women's Hundred title win in 2023, with Smriti Mandhana not on the list for Charlotte Edwards' side.

Fellow India internationals Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues are all notable absentees among the 61 retentions across eight teams.

New Zealand batter Suzie Bates, who captained Oval Invincibles to the title in 2022, has also been let go. Anya Shrubsole, who led Brave to their first crown last summer, retired following that game.

Amy Jones, the current England wicketkeeper, enters the draft pool for the first time; she has not been retained by Birmingham Phoenix, who struggled in 2023 and will have the first draft pick.

They have retained Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine as overseas players, as well as seamers Issy Wong, Emily Arlott and youngsters Hannah Baker and Charis Pavely. Dutch batter Sterre Kalis also remains, but Eve Jones – another player synonymous with the region – has also been let go.

Lauren Filer, the England fast bowler, has not been retained by London Spirit, for whom the exciting Grace Scrivens is also not part of their retained list. Amelia Kerr, the New Zealand allrounder, is not one of the two overseas players – Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne – kept on by Spirit.

Former England internationals Katie George and Fran Wilson will also re-enter the draft pool after their releases by Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire, respectively. Originals have excluded overseas imports Deandra Dottin and Amanda-Jade Wellington from their retentions, while Laura Harris hasn't made Fire's list.

Kate Cross, though, has been retained by Northern Superchargers, a year on from her surprise move in the draft.

As well as Shrubsole, other ex-England players Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Alex Hartley have also retired, opening up spots in squads at Trent Rockets and, again, at Fire.

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