Sciver, Devine to captain Rockets, Phoenix

Natalie Sciver and Sophie Devine will captain Trent Rockets and Birmingham Phoenix in the inaugural season of ‘The Hundred’, it was announced on Friday (March 13).

Sciver scored three fifties in four matches for England in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup. She is third in ICC Rankings for allrounders in T20Is. She has Katherine Brunt for company in the side, apart from Elyse Villani and Sophie Molineux, the Aussie duo as the overseas players.

“I've known Nat for a long time since her early years in the sport, so I can't wait to work with her again now she's one of the world's best players,” said Salliann Briggs, head coach of Trent Rockets.

“She has impressed as a captain in domestic competitions before and I have full confidence she'll get the best out of the squad in The Hundred. Her international experience in one of the world's best short-format teams will undoubtedly help our chances of success this year.”

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Devine, who led New Zealand in the T20 World Cup, scored an unbeaten 75 against Sri Lanka before her run of six successive fifty-plus scores in T20Is came to an end against India. She will have Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner in the side.

“Sophie was the first international player we selected for Birmingham Phoenix and I've always admired the way she goes about her game,” said Ben Sawyer, head coach of Phoenix.

“She's an outstanding bowler and her batting is just as good, as demonstrated in the recent Women's Big Bash League where she reinforced her position as one of the world's best. Having seen a lot of her with New Zealand, it's clear that she is a natural leader and her experience in the international arena, and with Warwickshire, makes her the ideal candidate to lead Birmingham Phoenix. I have no doubt that she will do a great job.”