The Hundred: Who could be this month's white-ball breakthrough stars?

New York Times

a day ago

The Hundred is a product of the ECB's efforts to introduce young audiences to cricket. It's a unique tournament in which each team faces 100 balls, with overs bowled in sets of five or 10 deliveries, and matches wrapped up in around two and a half hours.
While the format hasn't won over every traditional fan, it is safe to say that it has seen success in several areas. It has appealed to younger audiences, helped push women's cricket forward, and consistently driven strong audiences. Most notably, 57 per cent of Hundred viewers in 2021 had not previously watched live ECB cricket. By 2024, the tournament had also helped shrink the TV viewership gap between men's and women's games by 60 per cent.
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Double-header matchdays offer added value to spectators, and the atmosphere often feels more like a festival than a traditional cricket match, with music, lighting, family-friendly pricing and vibrant branding.
But 2025 could be the last year of The Hundred as we know it.
The ECB has raised £520million ($698m) by selling stakes in the eight franchises, with that funding set to support and revitalise domestic cricket.
Behind the scenes, private ownership is taking over and preparing for 2026. Silicon Valley-based investors are involved with London Spirit. Sanjiv Goenka, of Lucknow Super Giants and RPSG group, has acquired a 70 per cent stake in Manchester Originals, soon to be rebranded as Manchester Super Giants. Reliance Industries, the owners of Mumbai Indians, have also acquired 49 per cent of Oval Invincibles, with other groups waiting in the wings.
It's clear that The Hundred is moving toward something more global and franchise-led, and perhaps more IPL-shaped. That makes this season feel even more important; a chance for both domestic and overseas players to showcase their talent ahead of a potential auction next year. One strong season can shape and shift a player's entire career trajectory.
With that in mind, here are seven players we think could make a serious impact in this year's men's competition — and well beyond.
Mousley had his biggest moment last year for Birmingham Phoenix. Defending 10 runs in the final 10 deliveries against Trent Rockets, he gave away just three and took three wickets to win the game. It was a masterclass in death bowling, sending down 80mph darting yorkers from his deceptively brisk off-spin.
Mousley's bowling is unique. He's listed as an off-spinner but operates at medium-pace speeds, generating serious arm speed. He thrives in high-pressure moments, and his ability to execute at the death makes him a rare asset.
He made his England debut on the 2024 tour of the West Indies, playing four T20s and three one-day internationals — picking up two wickets in the shortest format and scoring a half-century in one of the ODIs.
In the 2025 Vitality Blast, he delivered on both fronts: 342 runs in 12 innings at an average of 34.20 and a strike rate of 152.7, alongside 12 wickets at an economy under eight. His best figures of 4-19 came in a fiery spell against Worcestershire. Across his 56-match Blast career, he now has 1,345 runs at 29.88 and 54 wickets at 21.44. Those are elite all-rounder numbers.
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He'll face stiff competition at Birmingham from Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell, both spin-bowling all-rounders. But Mousley's power-hitting in the middle overs and ability to close out games with the ball could make him a regular in the XI.
If he carries this form into The Hundred, expect him to put in match-winning performances. Mousley has the X-factor one looks for in a short-format star, and this could be the year he puts himself firmly on England's radar.
Hurst is a wicketkeeper-batter who burst onto the scene in last year's edition of The Hundred after being promoted to open for Manchester Originals. He made an immediate impact, scoring 151 runs from 7 innings at a strike rate of 158.94, including two half-centuries. His standout moment came in his very first knock at the top of the order, scoring 78 off 45 balls against Northern Superchargers, playing shots all around the ground.
That performance came against a high-quality attack featuring Reece Topley, Matthew Potts, Ben Dwarshuis, Adil Rashid and Mitchell Santner. One moment summed up his intent perfectly: with Originals needing 40 off 20 balls and two wickets falling in succession, Santner was on a hat-trick. But Hurst fearlessly hit him for a one-bounce four over cover.
His form caught the attention of coach Simon Katich, who recommended him to Perth Scorchers for the BBL draft. He scored just 64 runs in five games there, but the experience was invaluable. In first-class cricket for Lancashire, he has also shown adaptability, recently scoring his second century, 106, against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. He managed 203 runs in nine matches across this year's Vitality Blast, too, with a strike rate just over 130.
Perhaps the biggest endorsement of Hurst's rising stock came in the Originals' opening game this season: he was chosen to open the batting ahead of Jos Buttler in a team that also includes Phil Salt and Heinrich Klaasen — three international wicketkeepers. That says plenty about the faith in his talent.
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Baker is an express quick who came through England's under-19 system and, at 22, already clocks 90-plus mph regularly.
His action is whippy and lies somewhere between that of Shaun Tait and a young Mitchell Johnson. He took 4-20 in this summer's Vitality Blast for Hampshire, followed by a career-best 5/72 in the County Championship. On his return to The Hundred, he made an immediate impact too, taking 2/26 in his first game for Manchester Originals.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Baker is obsessive about his craft. He idolises Dale Steyn, carries a notebook filled with ground dimensions, seam grips and batter-specific plans, and rejected bigger offers to join Hampshire, purely so he could learn from Kyle Abbott and Keith Barker. This season, he's likely to share the new ball with James Anderson — a 21-year age gap between them. It's a fascinating contrast: raw pace and energy from Baker, paired with the precision and swing mastery of Anderson.
He may not play every game, but when he does, he won't go unnoticed. As Andrew Flintoff put it, watching Baker bowl creates 'theatre and magic'.
Muyeye finished the 2025 Vitality Blast as the second-highest run-scorer, piling up 516 runs in 14 innings at an average of 36.85 and a strike rate above 140. After years of being tipped as one to watch, this was the season he truly delivered. He struck three fifties and a standout hundred scored from 59 balls against Essex that stamped his authority on the competition.
He is expected to open the batting for Oval Invincibles this season alongside Will Jacks, forming a potentially destructive opening pair.
Muyeye's game is a blend of technique and power: he bats with a high back-lift and combines classical cover drives with high-elbow punches and wristy flicks. Born in Zimbabwe, he moved to the UK as a teenager after his family sought asylum. He was granted right to remain by the Home Office in 2021. Soon after, he signed his first professional deal with Kent. Since then, he has passed 100 appearances across formats and crossed 3,500 career runs.
He has spoken openly about his ambition to play for England. With form, opportunity, and timing all falling into place, this could be the year Muyeye turns long-held excitement into something more permanent.
Ferreira might just be the most underrated overseas player in this year's Hundred. A genuine triple-threat, he can bat, bowl off-spin and keep wicket if needed. Yet he's rarely mentioned in the same breath as the tournament's bigger international names.
He heads into this season on the back of an electric MLC 2025 campaign with the Texas Super Kings, where he scored 248 runs in nine innings at an average of 41.33 and a ridiculous strike rate of 213.79. That includes a blistering 20-ball 53 against MI New York and a nine-ball 37 against Washington Freedom. Both masterclasses in death-over hitting.
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He also chipped in with a 1-5 spell against LA Knight Riders, earning Player of the Match honours and reminding everyone he rolls overarm as well.
Ferreira has built this reputation across leagues. He first broke out in the inaugural SA20 season, where his unbeaten 82 off 40 for Joburg Super Kings sealed a memorable win. Since then, he's compiled over 2,000 T20 runs in 112 matches at a strike rate of 163.27, with consistent performances across SA20, CPL, MLC and more.
In The Hundred, he played a smaller role last year for Oval Invincibles but still struck at over 174. This season, he returns in better form and, likely, with a greater role to play. Ferreira's toolkit gives Invincibles rare versatility: he can float in the batting order, finish an innings, bowl a few overs, and even take the gloves.
If he gets a consistent run of games, don't be surprised if Ferreira ends up as one of the tournament's most impactful overseas players.
Holden has always had a high pedigree. He is a former England Under-19s captain, Middlesex academy product, and one of the few players in county cricket to score hundreds in all three formats. But for much of his career, he struggled to convert potential into consistency.
He featured in the 2023 and 2024 editions of The Hundred, but did not make a lasting impact.
That now seems to be changing. Holden enjoyed a standout 2025 Vitality Blast, scoring 229 runs in eight matches at an average of 32.71 and a strike rate of 149.67. That came on the back of 420 runs in the 2023 Blast, which included a blistering unbeaten 121 off just 56 balls. In between, he also impressed in the ILT20 for Desert Vipers, scoring 230 runs at 76.66, including 76 in the final.
His resurgence hasn't been limited to white-ball cricket, either. Since the start of 2024, Holden has averaged over 50 and shown consistency in domestic red-ball cricket.
He returns to The Hundred with Trent Rockets this season after two quieter campaigns with Manchester Originals. If the Rockets give him a clearly defined role near the top of the order, he could provide much-needed stability alongside their more explosive hitters, finally showcasing why he's long been viewed as one of England's most well-rounded domestic batters.
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Holden may not be the flashiest name on the team sheet, but with experience, confidence, and an all-format game that's finally come together, 2025 could be the season he fully arrives in The Hundred.
Calling John Turner a 'prospect' in 2025 might be pushing it. At 24, he has already played for England across formats, hit 90-plus mph in The Hundred, and remains one of the most exciting fast bowlers to emerge from the domestic circuit in recent years.
His rise was rapid: he went from a professional debut with Hampshire in 2023 to an England call-up within just 70 days. Since then, he's made his international debut, earned a development contract and impressed with his blend of steep bounce, high pace, and composed bowling under pressure.
In the 2025 Vitality Blast, Turner's campaign was cut short after just six appearances, but he still picked up five wickets, including a best of 3-28. His overall T20 numbers remain outstanding: 48 wickets in 35 matches at an average of 18.85 and a strike rate of 13.3. In The Hundred, he's taken six wickets in five games for Trent Rockets at an average of just 13.33.
He also comes across as grounded and self-aware. Turner has openly admitted his pace dropped slightly during England duty and is already working to build it back up. He reviews every spell, tracks his speeds and embraces pressure situations — a mindset and work ethic that will take him far.
This season, the idea of him sharing the new ball with Lockie Ferguson could form one of the most intimidating pace duos in the competition. If fit and firing, Turner has the tools to dominate and prove that he belongs at the very top level.
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(Top photos: Getty Images)
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