Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine and Alyssa Healy to grace women's Hundred in 2022

Seventy-three players are confirmed the second edition of the 100-ball competition, which kicks off on August 11

Australia duo Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy are the headline names confirmed for the second edition of the women's Hundred.

Both players were forced to skip last year's inaugural competition due to the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

As previously planned, allrounder Perry will join up with Birmingham Phoenix while Healy is due at Northern Superchargers.

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine will also take up her contract with Phoenix having missed last year's tournament to prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

Fast-bowler Issy Wong, retained by the Edgbaston-based franchise, said: “I’m so excited to be back playing with Birmingham Phoenix this summer. 

"Last year was incredible for us and the women’s game, it’s only going to get bigger and better with world-class players like Ellyse Perry being able to join this time around."

^{Smriti Mandhana returns after cutting short her 2021 campaign (Harry Trump/Getty Images)}

India pair Smriti Mandhana, who was forced to cut-short her spell with Southern Brave, and Jemimah Rodrigues will return but Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma are all unattached.

There is also no sign of Deandra Dottin, Mignon du Preez or Stafanie Taylor, either.

Reigning champions Oval Invincibles are the big winners having kept hold of all three overseas players Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp and tournament MVP Dané van Niekerk from last term.

In all, a dozen overseas players have committed to the 2022 campaign. That group is completed by South Africa pair Lizelle Lee (Originals) and Laura Wolvaardt (Superchargers), Southern Brave's Amanda-Jade Wellington and Hayley Matthews who is back with Welsh Fire.

England's contracted contingent is headlined by captain Heather Knight remaining at London Spirit, while Sophia Dunkley and Kate Cross stay with Brave and Manchester Originals.

Though many have recommitted, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Winfield-Hill and the retired Fran Wilson are all free to renegotiate new deals.

Phoebe Graham, Alex Hartley, Georgia Adams, Sarah Bryce and Bryony Smith are also looking for new teams.

Spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who leads those kept on by Originals, added: “The Hundred is such a cool competition to be involved in and I’m thrilled to be taking part again with Manchester Originals.

"We were really getting into a groove in the back end of the competition last year, so we have nothing but high hopes for this summer.”

Dane van Niekerk is back to captain Southern Brave (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire - who have gaps in the top four salary bands - have undergone a mass clear-put having kept on just 13 players between them.

West Indies international Matthews is among those to return to South Wales where she will be joined by Claire Nicholas, who is available after opting out of the 2021 competition following the birth of her second child.

Following this raft of retentions new domestic and overseas signing will be announced by the eight women's teams on March 30 - the same day as the men's player draft.

This year will also see teams able to sign a fourth overseas player during a wildcard draft in June. Playing XIs will continue to be restricted to just three.

Birmingham Phoenix: Emily Arlott, Gwen Davies, Sophie Devine, Georgia Elwiss, Ria Fackrell, Phoebe Franklin, Kirstie Gordon, Amy Jones, Eve Jones, Ellyse Perry, Abtaha Maqsood, Issy Wong (12)

Overseas players: 2

Spaces to fill: 3 (including Overseas Wildcard)

London Spirit: Amara Carr, Freya Davies, Naomi Dattani, Charlie Dean, Danielle Gibson, Heather Knight, Alice Monaghan, Grace Scrivens (8)

Overseas players: 0

Spaces to fill: 7 (including Overseas Wildcard)

Heather Knight leads the England contracted players (Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Manchester Originals: Georgie Boyce, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Cordelia Griffith, Laura Jackson, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Lizelle Lee, Ellie Threlkeld (9)

Overseas players: 1

Spaces to fill: 6 (including Overseas Wildcard)

Northern Superchargers: Hollie Armitage, Alice Davidson-Richards, Alyssa Healy, Bess Heath, Beth Langston, Katie Levick, Kalea Moore, Jemimah Rodrigues, Liz Russell, Linsey Smith, Laura Wolvaardt (12)

Overseas players: 3

Spaces to fill: 3 (including Overseas Wildcard)

Trent Rockets: Katherine Brunt, Kathryn Bryce, Abbey Freeborn, Sarah Glenn, Nat Sciver (5)

Overseas players: 0

Spaces to fill:10 (including Overseas Wildcard)

Trent Rockets are set for a mass overhaul (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Oval Invincibles: Alice Capsey, Tash Farrant, Grace Gibbs, Danielle Gregory, Shabnim Ismail, Emma Jones, Marizanne Kapp, Dané van Niekerk, Mady Villiers (9)

Overseas players: 3

Spaces to fill: 6 (including Overseas Wildcard)

Southern Brave: Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Smriti Mandhana, Tara Norris, Carla Rudd, Paige Scholfield, Anya Shrubsole, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Danni Wyatt (10)

Overseas players: 2

Spaces to fill: 5 (including Overseas Wildcard)

Welsh Fire: Hannah Baker, Lauren Filer, Katie George, Alex Griffiths, Nicole Harvey, Georgia Hennessy, Hayley Matthews, Claire Nicholas (8)

Overseas players: 1

Spaces to fill: 7 (including Overseas Wildcard)

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