Welsh Fire
| Personnel | |
|---|---|
| Captain |
|
| Coach |
|
| Overseas players | |
| Owner | Glamorgan County Cricket Club (50%), Washington Freedom (50%) |
| Team information | |
| Colours | |
| Founded | 2019; 6 years ago (2019) |
| Home ground | Sophia Gardens |
| Capacity | 16,000 |
| History | |
| No. of titles | 0 |
| Official website | [1] |
|
The Hundred kit | |
Welsh Fire (Welsh: Tân Cymreig) are a franchise 100-ball cricket side based in the city of Cardiff. The team represents the historic counties of Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Somerset in the newly founded competition called The Hundred,[1] which took place for the first time during the 2021 English and Welsh cricket season. Both the men's and women's teams play their home games at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
History
[edit ]Welsh Fire was founded in June 2019 as one of eight teams to take part in the inaugural season of The Hundred. The team was jointly run by Glamorgan, Somerset and Gloucestershire County Cricket Clubs. It was reported that the side might be renamed as Western Fire, to allay concerns in Somerset and Gloucestershire that they were not sufficiently represented by the side, but this did not come to fruition.[2]
In July 2019, the team announced that former South Africa and India coach, and current Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Gary Kirsten had been appointed as the men's team coach.[3] The women's side was due to be managed by Matthew Mott, a former Glamorgan coach and the current Australia women's team coach, but he withdrew and was replaced by his assistant coach, Mark O'Leary.[4]
The inaugural Hundred draft[clarification needed ] took place in October 2019 and saw the Fire claim Jonny Bairstow as their headline men's draftee, and Katie George as the women's headliner. They are joined by Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Banton, Glamorgan batsman Colin Ingram, and England batter Bryony Smith.[5]
Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc were selected as the flagship 125,000ドル signings in the first round and are two of the side's three overseas players. With Ingram and Banton already occupying the 100,000ドル slots, Welsh Fire sat out the second round. Ravi Rampaul and Ben Duckett were selected in the third round for 75,000ドル and Simon Harmer, along with Afghanistan's Qais Ahmed (the team's third overseas player), were bought for 60,000ドル in the fourth. Liam Plunkett and Ryan ten Doeschate were the picks in the fifth round for 50,000ドル and Gloucestershire duo David Payne and Ryan Higgins were selected in the sixth round for 40,000ドル. Danny Briggs and Leus du Plooy complete the squad, having both been bought for 30,000ドル in the final round. The final place in the squad will go to an outstanding performer in next season's Vitality Blast 20-over competition.
Australian Meg Lanning was the next pick for the ladies' team.
As part of the 2025 Hundred sale, the ECB gave Glamorgan County Cricket Club a 51% stake in the franchise with the remaining 49% sold in an auction process. Glamorgan County Cricket Club opted to sell 1% of their stake with Washington Freedom acquiring 50% of the franchise. They took operational control on 1 October 2025.[6] [7]
Honours
[edit ]Men's honours
[edit ]The Hundred
- 4th place: 2023 (highest finish)
Women's honours
[edit ]The Hundred
Ground
[edit ]
Both the Fire men's and women's sides play at the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground, in the west of Cardiff city centre. The women's side had been due to play some matches at Gloucestershire's Bristol County Ground and Somerset's County Ground, Taunton but both teams were brought together at the same ground as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Current squads
[edit ]- Bold denotes players with international caps.
- * denotes a player who is unavailable for rest of the season.
Women's side
[edit ]| No. | Name | Nationality | Date of birth (age) | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | ||||||
| 4 | Emily Windsor | England | (1997年09月14日) 14 September 1997 (age 28) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 12 | Tammy Beaumont | England | (1991年03月11日) 11 March 1991 (age 34) | Right-handed | — | Captain |
| 47 | Sophia Dunkley | England | (1998年07月16日) 16 July 1998 (age 27) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| All-rounders | ||||||
| 21 | Jess Jonassen | Australia | (1992年11月05日) 5 November 1992 (age 33) | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | Overseas player |
| 25 | Alex Griffiths | Wales | (2002年06月12日) 12 June 2002 (age 23) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Wildcard player |
| 34 | Georgia Elwiss | England | (1991年05月31日) 31 May 1991 (age 34) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 50 | Hayley Matthews | West Indies | (1998年03月19日) 19 March 1998 (age 27) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Overseas player |
| 99 | Katie George | England | (1999年04月07日) 7 April 1999 (age 26) | Right-handed | Left-arm medium | |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||
| 6 | Sarah Bryce | Scotland | (2000年01月08日) 8 January 2000 (age 25) | Right-handed | — | |
| Pace bowlers | ||||||
| 42 | Beth Langston | England | (1992年09月06日) 6 September 1992 (age 33) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 61 | Freya Davies | England | (1995年10月27日) 27 October 1995 (age 30) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 89 | Shabnim Ismail | South Africa | (1988年10月05日) 5 October 1988 (age 37) | Left-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | Overseas player |
| — | Charley Phillips | England | (2003年05月08日) 8 May 2003 (age 22) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Wildcard player |
| Spin bowlers | ||||||
| 23 | Katie Levick | England | (1991年07月18日) 18 July 1991 (age 34) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| 64 | Georgia Davis | England | (1999年06月03日) 3 June 1999 (age 26) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
Men's side
[edit ]| No. | Name | Nationality | Date of birth (age) | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | ||||||
| 23 | Stephen Eskinazi | England | (1994年03月28日) 28 March 1994 (age 31) | Right-handed | — | |
| 28 | Tom Abell | England | (1994年03月05日) 5 March 1994 (age 31) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Captain |
| 32 | Tom Kohler-Cadmore | England | (1994年08月19日) 19 August 1994 (age 31) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| 49 | Steve Smith | Australia | (1989年06月02日) 2 June 1989 (age 36) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | Overseas player |
| All-rounders | ||||||
| 3 | Luke Wells | England | (1990年12月29日) 29 December 1990 (age 34) | Left-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| 8 | Ben Kellaway | Wales | (2004年01月05日) 5 January 2004 (age 21) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Wildcard player |
| 18 | Saif Zaib | England | (1998年05月22日) 22 May 1998 (age 27) | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | |
| 22 | Paul Walter | England | (1994年05月28日) 28 May 1994 (age 31) | Left-handed | Left-arm medium | |
| 93 | Chris Green | Australia | (1993年10月01日) 1 October 1993 (age 32) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Overseas player |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||
| 51 | Jonny Bairstow | England | (1989年09月26日) 26 September 1989 (age 36) | Right-handed | — | |
| Pace bowlers | ||||||
| 7 | David Payne | England | (1991年02月15日) 15 February 1991 (age 34) | Right-handed | Left-arm fast-medium | |
| 12 | Riley Meredith | Australia | (1996年06月21日) 21 June 1996 (age 29) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | Overseas player |
| 20 | Josh Hull | England | (2004年08月20日) 20 August 2004 (age 21) | Left-handed | Left-arm fast-medium | |
| 21 | Matt Henry | New Zealand | (1991年12月14日) 14 December 1991 (age 33) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | Overseas player; Replacement player |
| 39 | Ajeet Singh Dale | England | (2000年07月03日) 3 July 2000 (age 25) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | Wildcard player |
| — | Chris Woakes | England | (1989年03月02日) 2 March 1989 (age 36) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | Centrally Contracted player; Ruled out through injury |
| Spin bowlers | ||||||
| 5 | Mason Crane | England | (1997年02月18日) 18 February 1997 (age 28) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
Seasons
[edit ]Women's team
[edit ]| Season | Group stage | Playoff stage | Ref. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | L | T | NR | Pts | Pos | Pld | Pos | ||
| 2021 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8th | Did not progress | [8] | |
| 2022 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8th | Did not progress | [9] | |
| 2023 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3rd | 1[a] | 3rd | [10] |
| 2024 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 1st | 1[b] | 2nd | [11] |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8th | Did not progress | [12] | |
Men's team
[edit ]| Season | Group stage | Playoff stage | Ref. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | L | T | NR | Pts | Pos | Pld | Pos | ||
| 2021 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7th | Did not progress | [13] | |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8th | Did not progress | [14] | |
| 2023 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4th | Did not progress | [15] | |
| 2024 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6th | Did not progress | [16] | |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8th | Did not progress | [17] | |
Notes
- ^ Welsh Fire women qualified for the eliminator in 2023. They played one match, a playoff against Northern Superchargers. After the first innings, rain caused the game to be abandoned with the game ending in a "no result". As Welsh Fire finished the group in 3rd and the Northern Superchargers finished in 2nd, the Northern Superchargers progressed to the final due to a better finishing position in the group stage.
- ^ Welsh Fire women finished top of the group stage and qualified automatically for the final in 2024. They lost the final against London Spirit by 4 wickets.
See also
[edit ]- List of Welsh Fire cricketers
- List of cricket grounds in England and Wales
- List of Test cricket grounds
References
[edit ]- ^ "The Hundred: Team-by-team guides, coach details and venues". Sporting Life. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "Cardiff Hundred team may drop 'Welsh' from name in favour of 'Western Fire'". ESPN.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ www.uprisevsi.co.uk, upriseVSI. "England and Local Cricket Stars Align for Welsh Fire". Glamorgan Cricket. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ "The Hundred: Meet the Welsh Fire". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "The Hundred: Central contract and local icon 'drafts' explained". ESPNcricinfo. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ "ECB finalises deals with strategic partners in The Hundred, unlocking hundreds of millions of pounds for game-wide growth". ECB. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ Abraham, Timothy (31 January 2025). "American team owner takes 40ドルm stake in Welsh Fire". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "The Hundred Women's Competition 2021". espncricinfo.com.
- ^ "The Hundred Women's Competition 2022". espncricinfo.com.
- ^ "The Hundred Women's Competition 2023". espncricinfo.com.
- ^ "The Hundred Women's Competition 2024". espncricinfo.com.
- ^ "The Hundred Women's Competition 2025". espncricinfo.com.
- ^ "The Hundred Men's Competition 2021". espncricinfo.com.
- ^ "The Hundred Men's Competition 2022". espncricinfo.com.
- ^ "The Hundred Men's Competition 2023". espncricinfo.com.
- ^ "The Hundred Men's Competition 2024". espncricinfo.com.
- ^ "The Hundred Men's Competition 2025". espncricinfo.com.
Further reading
[edit ]- BBC: The Hundred player draft – covering the first draft signings for each region's team
