Left-armers, keepers and big-hitters: 10 overseas players who could represent good value in the Hundred draft

Beneath the swathes of international stars at the top of the Hundred draft list, several others have entered with intriguing reserve prices or with none at all. Will any of the eight teams unearth a gem hidden among a haystack of 239 overseas names?

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The temptation, given the sheer number of big names at the top of the international draft list, is to stockpile on expensive overseas signings. Rashid Khan, Andre Russell, Chris Gayle – the grandest names on the T20 circuit – and a draft system that allows teams to go all out in splashing out on them.

Further down the list, however, lies a plethora of intriguing options, available either with a generous minimum price or with no base value at all (even Kamran Akmal has thrown his name into the hat).

It means that franchises will have something to think about – whether to nail down three, big-name internationals in the early rounds or whether it’s worth sparing one – or even two – for later in the draft, when there is a clearer indication of what is missing from a particular squad.

That latter route would allow a team to make a head start in signing up key domestic players, potentially shifting the entire momentum of the draft, forcing other teams to join them in picking English players early on to avoid missing out. There will be plenty of early interest in Dawid Malan, Ravi Bopara, Tymal Mills, Sam Billings and Lewis Gregory, among others.

With that strategy in mind, here are ten leftfield options teams could well take in the latter rounds of the draft…

Imad Wasim (£50,000)

An often-underrated striker of a cricket ball and one of the savvier white-ball bowlers around, Pakistan’s Swansea-born left-arm spinner could well prove successful in the draft.

Unlike some of his countrymen, who will have to break away from the tournament for a three-match Test series against England, Wasim has never played Test cricket and, therefore, will be available for the entire competition.

A strike-rate with the bat in T20I cricket of 150.61 makes him a useful lower-order option, while a T20I economy rate of just 5.85 is an outrageous return for a man who bowls many of his overs within the powerplay.

The pitches are different here, of course, with England getting after him when he bowled early on during an ODI series before the World Cup. Yet, that should not take away from a canny, wily cricketer.

Mitchell Santner (£50,000)

Another left-arm spinner, another clever operator. Like Imad, he also offers additional batting down the order, even if it seems to have regressed slightly in recent times.

His record with the ball, however, is exceptional in the shorter formats. Across his T20 career, he possesses an economy rate of 6.96, some effort given the quality of pitches and boundary sizes in New Zealand.

Much of his best work has come in the Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings, working under the stewardship of Stephen Fleming. The former Black Caps captain, of course, is in charge at Trent Rockets, so don’t be surprised to see Santner reunited – in yellow, once again – with Fleming.

Rockets’ pre-draft signings are Joe Root, Alex Hales and Harry Gurney – a middle-order batsman, an opener and a death-bowling expert. It certainly leaves room for a spinner. They do, however, have the first pick of the draft and, thus, the chance to pick up Rashid Khan, which could work against Santner.

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Mitchell Santner could be reunited with former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming

Alex Carey (£40,000)

Only Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire have wicketkeepers already signed up as part of their pre-draft trios – Jos Buttler for Simon Katich’s side, Jonny Bairstow and Tom Banton for Gary Kirsten’s outfit.

In all likelihood, Quinton de Kock – an opening batsman as much as a gloveman – will fill a third keeping spot early on.

And while English cricket is currently spoilt for choice in its wicketkeeper-batsman reserves – Ben Foakes, Sam Billings, Ben Cox, Adam Rossington and John Simpson should all stand a fair chance of being drafted; few are as destructive as Carey.

The Australia World Cup wicketkeeper starred with the bat in the middle order for Sussex during their T20 Blast campaign and dragged Adelaide Strikers to Big Bash glory in 2017/18 as an opener.

Sheldon Cottrell (£40,000)

Left-armers have become increasingly important in modern white-ball cricket and several are likely to get picked up in the draft.

Domestically, Tymal Mills, Reece Topley and David Payne have all enjoyed successful Blast seasons in recent times and will surely be coveted.

On the overseas list, Cottrell is joined by Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi, Jason Behrendorff, Mustafizur Rahman and Wahab Riaz among others.

At £40,000, however, the West Indian might have an advantage. The ability to bowl quick in-swinging yorkers with the new ball should also help his cause. A fine fielder as well.

Fabian Allen (no reserve price)

There have been some theories that the 100-ball format will make the likes of Fabian Allen less attractive. Given the brevity of the format, there is a school of thought that you can split your team almost into two sections – a top six and a bottom five.

If so, Allen’s chances of being picked up are squashed somewhat. Yet, the allrounder is a proper three-dimensional cricketer: a hard-hitting middle-order batsman, a serviceable left-arm spinner and an outrageous fielder.

His unreserved price makes him a potentially intriguing option for a team that opts to leave an overseas gap until late on.

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Fabian Allen (right) is a fine all-round cricketer

Chris Green (no reserve price)

Ravi Bopara told The Cricketer earlier this week that he struggles to understand why cricketers who perform on the franchise stage are so often overlooked by their national side.

He was discussing Harry Gurney, but the same could certainly apply to Chris Green, the Australian allrounder, who was a key part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors side that steamrolled the Caribbean Premier League until losing in the final.

He has become a staple of franchise units worldwide, but was once again left out of Australia’s T20 squad for their upcoming series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“I think it does go under the radar,” Bopara said. “Franchise cricket is tough. It really is tough. You’re playing against serious overseas cricketers – four or sometimes five in a team, with the best domestic players from that country.

“It’s condensed. They are the best of the best. To perform well in those, you have to be doing something well. I don’t know why it doesn’t get looked at more.”

Green, with an unreserved price tag, has every chance of securing a deal.

Adam Milne (no reserve price)

The rapid New Zealander has county experience, having played for Kent in recent years in the T20 Blast. He bowls a fine yorker and has become a terrific death bowler.

His injury record has prevented his career from reaching the peaks it might otherwise have done, but The Hundred’s replacement rules around injured players mean that teams should not be scared of taking a punt on one of the quickest around.

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Hazratullah Zazai hit 162* off 62 balls against Ireland

Glenn Phillips (no reserve price)

Another, like Alex Carey, who should benefit from his ability with the gloves. It has been a rapid rise for Phillips, who only in 2016 was playing for Brondesbury in the Middlesex Premier League as an overseas player.

These days, he is one of the most sought-after wicketkeeper-batsmen on the T20 circuit. Even in a Jamaica Tallawahs team that featured Chris Gayle and Andre Russell, the New Zealander outscored them comfortably.

He comes without a reserve price and could fill two slots at once – taking his place at the top of the order and keeping wicket as well. It has never quite clicked for him yet at international level, but he possesses all the tools.

Billy Stanlake (no reserve price)

Like Adam Milne, Stanlake is a giant right-arm fast bowler for whom injuries have often found themselves in the way. He was meant to represent Derbyshire in last season’s T20 Blast, but was ruled out late on.

From his enormous height, he is a difficult customer to truly get after, while he nips the ball into the right-hander from his natural length, making it awkward for batsmen to free their arms.

His beanpole stature also makes his yorker a veritable weapon. There are few big-name right-arm fast men in the draft – Kagiso Rabada and Lasith Malinga are the only two in the top two overseas salary bands, so Stanlake will believe he has a chance.

Hazratullah Zazai (no reserve price)

Perhaps the most leftfield pick on the list. The Afghan left-hander showed glimpses during the World Cup of his hard-hitting capabilities.

The 21-year-old has modelled his game on Chris Gayle, clearing his front leg to give his bat the best possible chance to bash bowlers over wide long-on.

He struggles against spin, but possesses a rare brutality against seam bowling. Just ask Ireland, against whom he plundered an unbeaten 162 off just 62 deliveries.

He might only need ten balls to make a serious impression.

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