The Cricketer takes a look at the eight teams after the latest signings were announced
Signings: Sophie Molineux (£25,000), Sterre Kalis (£7,500).
Birmingham Phoenix will look to build on their success in reaching the knockout stages of the tournament last year with Ellyse Perry able to make the journey to Birmingham this year. The Australian's quality with both the bat and the ball is second to none and her standing as the best all-round player in the women's game is well deserved. However, she struggled with back spasms during the World Cup which ruled her out of the semi-final. If she is fully fit going into the summer then she may provide the lift that Phoenix needs to go one step better this year.
Joining Perry is New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, who was also unable to play last year. She impressed with the bat and the ball during the World Cup, notably scoring an impressive 93 against South Africa. She has the ability to score quick runs at the top of the order and her experience is a good addition to the Birmingham side.
Sophie Molineux has bundles of experience and perhaps something to prove after recently losing her Cricket Australia central contract. She joins Kirstie Gordon in the Phoenix spin ranks. Gordon's miserly bowling and Molineux's wicket-taking ability could form a star pairing for Phoenix. While the pace duo of Issy Wong and Emily Arlott lack experience, they are both hugely promising talents.
Sophie Molineux will be Birmingham Phoenix's lead spinner
Signings: Beth Mooney (£31,250), Amelia Kerr (£25,000), Megan Schutt (£25,000), Sophie Luff (£18,750)
Spirit have benefited from the return of the Australian stars to The Hundred following their withdrawal due to Covid restrictions last year.
Beth Mooney is a big signing as an explosive left-handed batter. She was the first player to score 3,000 runs in the WBBL and boasts a T20 strike rate of 117.44. She made her mark in the field in the World Cup with a stunning diving grab to dismiss Rashada Williams, not a surprise given she is also a very capable wicketkeeper. Joining Mooney is her Australian team-mate, fast bowler Megan Schutt, who has over 100 ODI wickets and nearly as many T20I scalps. Her experience will be key in helping Spirit qualify for the knock-out stages this year.
Amelia Kerr is a good addition. Kerr was originally due to play for Southern Brave in the first year of the competition but opted out of leaving New Zealand to prioritise her mental health. A batting allrounder who can take charge of an innings at the top of the order and bowl attacking leg-spin, she is the perfect fit for a 100-ball side.
Spirit are perhaps lacking some firepower in the middle order, beyond Kerr, Mooney and captain Heather Knight. They do, however, still have three spaces in their squad to fill.
Charlie Dean is undoubtedly one to watch as an off-spinning allrounder, capable of achieving drift and tieing down an end. She is also more than useful with the bat.
Beth Mooney offers world-class quality at the top of the London Spirit order
Signings: Deandra Dottin (£25,000), Amy Satterthwaite (£18,750), Ami Campbell (£12,500), Phoebe Graham (£10,000), Grace Potts (£7,500)
Originals have gone for experienced allrounders in their new overseas signings of Deandra Dottin and Amy Satterthwaite.
The pair have over 500 white-ball caps between them. Dottin is a power hitter at the top of the order, and she demonstrated her good form with solid performances in the World Cup. However, her injuries have put paid to her best bowling days, and she only took three wickets in last year's tournament, which she spent with London Spirit.
Lizelle Lee will be key as ever at the top of the order. She is one of the most explosive batters in the women's game and a proven record of demolishing bowling attacks. However, she did not perform to her high standards in the World Cup as she averaged just 11.57 in her seven matches.
With a plethora of top-order batters in Dottin, Lee, Satterthwaite and Ami Campbell, plus combative Emma Lamb and the England pair of Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone - who both showed last year they can hit a long ball in this format - Originals have the potential for big scores.
The bowling unit looks a little bit lighter, and perhaps overly dependent on the performances of Eccelstone and Cross, so large totals and substantial chases may well be necessary. Ellie Threlkeld is a terrific wicketkeeper with lightning-quick hands.
Manchester Originals have added Deandra Dottin to their squad
Signings: Jenny Gunn (£25,000), Lucy Higham (£7,500)
The Superchargers squad looks much as it did last year, with the addition of Alyssa Healy who was unable to travel.
Veteran Jenny Gunn, who was assistant coach of the side last year, joins the squad after a successful 2021 domestic season with Northern Diamonds. She was one of just two signings announced by the club this week. The allrounder has plenty of experience - useful given the departure of Lauren Winfield-Hill - though it is surprising that Superchargers used one of their higher pay brackets on the former England international.
Jemimah Rodrigues was one of the stars of the tournament last year and finished up as the leading runscorer. The prospect of her and Alyssa Healy teaming up at the top of the order is mouth-watering and promises to provide pyrotechnics.
Then there's Laura Wolvaardt. The South African, blessed with a cover drive that is incredibly easy on the eye, was one of the outstanding performers of the World Cup.
While the Superchargers' batting line-up looks strong, they may have missed a chance to strengthen their bowling attack. They have plenty of experience in their ranks in Katie Levick, the all-time leading wicket taking in English domestic women's cricket, and former England internationals Gunn and Beth Langston, but do they have an X Factor character with the ball? We're not too sure.
Superchargers do, however, still have two spots to fill, so that could yet change.
Jenny Gunn is one of two signings for Northern Superchargers in the latest release
Signings: Lauren Winfield-Hill (£18,750), Aylish Cranstone (£15,000), Emily Windsor (£10,000), Eva Gray (£10,000), Kira Chathli (£7,500)
The Invincibles squad brims with talent and star names, the most eye-catching of which are the South Africa duo of Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp, who return to the South London side. A fierce competitor and genuine allrounder, Kapp gives an extra level of toughness to every side she is part of. Van Niekerk is a similarly impressive all-rounder but after breaking her ankle in January slipping on the side of her swimming pool at home and missing the world cup, her form and fitness is unknown going into the tournament.
Mady Villiers and Alice Capsey are the side's young stars. Capsey was awarded the PCA's Young Women's Player of the Year last year after scoring a memorable 50 at Lord's and featuring in all of the Invincibles matches at just 17 years old. Villiers helped the side to victory in last year's tournament with her off-spin. She is also handy with the bat, her cameos in the lower middle-order can prove to be match winning and she is an invaluable player in the squad.
Lauren Winfield-Hill is the big arrival, coming from a good season at the Northern Superchargers last year. However, poor performances at the top of the order for England in the World Cup meant she was dropped from the side halfway through the tournament. At her best she is an anchor with the bat and useful with the ball, but she and the Invincibles management will hope for an upturn in form before August.
Emily Windsor could also be one to watch for the Invincibles. Coming down to the capital from Trent Rockets she is part of the highly successful Southern Vipers squad and can provide stability in the middle order.
Lauren Winfield-Hill has swapped Northern Superchargers for Oval Invincibles
Signings: Tahlia McGrath (£18,750), Georgia Adams (£12,500), Jo Gardner (£10,000), Freya Kemp (£7,500), Ella McCaughan (£7,500)
Southern Brave were the front runners in last year's competition before falling short in the final to the Oval Invincables. Their batting line-up of Smriti Mandhana, Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, and Maia Bouchier is about as energetic top order as you can find in this tournament. Signing Georgia Adams from the Oval Invincibles adds an acnhor.
Brave's big signing from the draft was Tahlia McGrath, the talented Australian allrounder. McGrath scored 225 runs and took 11 wickets during the Ashes in the winter. She has a brilliant yorker and her height makes her a more dangerous prospect.
The duo of Anya Shrubsole and Lauren Bell will also be a challenge for opposing teams. Bell had a good tournament last year, taking 12 wickets and making it onto the fringes of the England sides.
Tahlia McGrath is an excellent signing for Southern Brave
Signings: Meg Lanning (£31,250), Mignon du Preez (£25,000), Bryony Smith (£18,750), Alana King (£15,000), Marie Kelly (£12,500), Sophie Munro (£10,000), Alexa Stonehouse (£10,000), Georgia Davies (Retained)
Trent Rockets joined Welsh Fire in the bottom two spots of the table last year, so it is no surprise they have also overhauled their squad. Their overseas arrivals include Australia captain Meg Lanning and breakthrough leg-spinner Alana King. King's presence marks another achievement since she was selected for Australia this winter.
In theory, her attacking leg-spin could be a major threat through the middle overs, but she has limited experience of English pitches and will need to learn quickly to fulfil her potential in the competition.
Nat Sciver will be important for the side in the middle order, fresh from her brilliant century, albeit in a losing cause, in the World Cup final.
She will be the Rockets' anchor in the middle order. Mignon du Preez adds more international experience to a side which threatens to turn the 2021 table upside down. Du Preez recently retired from ODI cricket so should be fresh for the tournament.
Katherine Brunt's ever presence at the head of the bowling attack will be a mainstay in the side, if she can stay injury-free. Sarah Glenn's leg-spin will also be useful for the side as she returns to cricket after making herself unavailable to be a non-playing reserve at the World Cup squad. She took five wickets for the side last season in her eight appearances and will need to build on that performance this year. She is also useful with the bat.
Rockets look strong.
Alana King is the Trent Rockets' new leg-spinner
Signings: Tammy Beaumont (£31,250), Rachael Haynes (£31,250), Annabel Sutherland (£25,000), Fran Wilson (£25,000), Alex Hartley (£15,000), Fi Morris (£12,500), Sarah Bryce (£10,000)
All eyes must have been drawn to the Welsh Fire squad when it was announced. Their raft of new signings includes six World Cup winners and promises far better returns than last year.
With three high-class international openers to pick from in Tammy Beaumont, Rachael Haynes, and Hayley Matthews, it's likely that Matthews will slot into the No.3 spot. That top three will be crucial for the Fire in taking advantage of the 25-ball powerplay. Beaumont will likel keep wicket, though Sarah Bryce is a useful understudy.
The signing of Fran Wilson will back up the top three. Wilson, the experienced batter who retired from international cricket last year, can be the anchor of the team. Annabel Sutherland's all-round abilities with bat and ball - and the potential to substantially improve the run rate in the latter overs of an innings - will provide good balance for the new-look team.
Sutherland will team up with Katie George to lead the pace attack . Hopefully George will avoid the back injuries which meant she was unable to bowl for much of last year's tournament. Alex Hartley arrives from Manchester Originals; she struggled to take wickets in the early part of the competition last year.
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