David Warner and Marcus Stoinis pull out of The Hundred

Warner had a £100,000 contract with Southern Brave for the inaugural tournament - which is due to take place in July and August - while Stoinis was picked up in the £80,000 bracket by the same club

David Warner and Marcus Stoinis have pulled out of The Hundred, with the ECB citing "the practicalities of Covid" as a factor.

Warner had a £100,000 contract with Southern Brave for the inaugural tournament - which is due to take place in July and August - while Stoinis was picked up in the £80,000 bracket by the same club.

"It is obviously disappointing to lose players with the ability of David and Marcus, but the realities of Covid mean there are practicalities that are difficult for some overseas players to overcome," the ECB said in a statement to ESPNcricinfo.

"Replacement overseas players will be signed by Southern Brave, and we look forward to the Hundred showcasing world-class cricket this summer."

^{David Warner has withdrawn from The Hundred}

Sophie Devine has also withdrawn from the competition, the New Zealander opting against a stint with Birmingham Phoenix, who have signed Shafali Verma of India in her place.

The ECB are braced for more players to remove themselves from the competition owing to a combination of bubble fatigue and the international calendar.

Warner and Stoinis have been named in a preliminary Australia squad for a white-ball tour of West Indies, which clashes with The Hundred, but are expected not to take part in that trip following more than a year of bubble-to-bubble competitions.