The Hundred season preview: Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire to land first titles
Manchester Originals to win men's competition outright - 11/2 Bet365
Welsh Fire to win women's competition outright - 9/2 Ladbrokes
The Hundred returns in August as part of a bumper summer of cricket as eight teams from around the UK fight for the men's and women's titles over the course of the month.
Some of the world's greatest cricketers will be taking to the pitch across several of the UK's best venues, including Lord's, the Oval, Old Trafford and Edgbaston, as the unique tournament enters its fifth season in 2025.
Played over a 100-ball format, The Hundred was introduced as a disruptor series to increase engagement with the sport, and though it has split opinion in some quarters, many in the cricketing world have welcomed the new tournament.
The first four seasons have seen plenty of engagement from cricket fans new and old, and 2025 promises plenty more entertainment as fans get their fast-paced cricketing fix ahead of this winter's Ashes series in Australia.
In 2025, England regulars including Joe Root, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook and Jofra Archer are joined by experienced internationals such as David Warner, Beth Mooney, Hayley Matthews and Steve Smith, with each side possessing world class talent with the bat and ball.
2024 champions Oval Invincibles are the early favourites in the men's competition – with cricket betting sites backing them at odds of 10/3 – while the London-based side's women's side are also slight favourites in their tournament, priced at around 4/1.
The Hundred men's betting preview: Originals to spring a surprise?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, defending champions Oval Invincibles are favourites to win the men's title, and in 2025 they are looking to seal a hat-trick of titles having also won in 2023.
The London-based side, led by England duo Sam Billings and Sam Curran, is backed at odds of 10/3 to retain their title, having added Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan and all-rounder Donovan Ferreira to the squad as overseas options.
However, for those looking to back a different side – or anyone feeling that a three-peat is unlikely this summer – the Manchester Originals offer an interesting alternative.
While the northern side had a disappointing 2024 – losing seven of their eight matches – they were finalists in both 2023 and 2022, running the Invincibles close in the former.
Led by England T20 openers Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, the Originals have also welcomed back England bowling legend James Anderson – who has been impressive on his return to Lancashire's T20 Blast side this season – while adding New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra and former South Africa batsman Heinrich Klaasen.
With some of England's Test stars – Archer perhaps chief among them – likely to be jaded ahead of the tournament, it could be the perfect chance for the T20 players to step up and make their mark, and we're backing the Originals to do just that in 2025, with the Manchester side at 11/2 with various betting sites.
The Hundred women's betting preview: Fire to bring the heat in 2025
As with the men's tournament, the Oval Invincibles are the favourites to win the women's competition at 4/1 on betting apps, though there is little to separate them and both Welsh Fire and Southern Brave, who are each offered at 9/2.
However, we think the Welsh Fire squad looks the most promising this season, having finished first in the table last summer before losing a close final to London Spirit at Lord's.
The Welsh side will be looking to build on that positive run, and they look well-positioned to do so with a squad built around key England batters Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley as well as world class West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews, who is currently ranked second in the world T20I batting rankings.
Matthews has three 50s, one 71, one 85 and unbeaten ton across her last 10 T20 matches, and along with 20th-ranked Dunkley, England opener Beaumont and handy middle order batter Sarah Bryce, she should have quite an effective supporting cast for her star quality.
In addition, the Fire have retained overseas players Jess Jonassen and Shabnim Ismail for their bowling attack, with Freya Davies completing a dangerous trio.
The squad looks well-placed to build on the success of last season, and if they manage to keep it going they'll be a tough team to beat in 2025.
If you're having a bet on the cricket this weekend, it's vital to practice responsible gambling.
Betting can be addictive, and it's important to stay in control of your gambling, whether you're using online bookies, casino sites, slot sites, bingo sites or any other gambling platform.
Never treat gambling as a way to make money, never bet more than you can afford and when the fun stops, stop.
Gambling sites offer punters tools, like deposit limits, profit and loss trackers and self-exclusion options, to help you stay in control.
Try not to get too seduced by free bet offers or casino bonuses, which are widely available on gambling apps.
But if you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don't hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
a minute ago
- South Wales Argus
Defoe and East help celebrate major moment for cricket initiative
The Premier League legend and X Factor star joined forces to mark the 100th newly-installed cricket pitch in parks and sports centres across England and Wales as part of KP Snacks' Everyone In campaign. The pair swapped football boots and microphones for bats and balls as part of a pitch party also involving professionals from the men's and women's teams at Hundred sides Oval Invincibles and London Spirit. Defoe, who grew up in Canning Town, has not played the sport since his schooldays but relished taking part and seeing the opportunities on offer for children in the capital. KP Snacks, the Official Team Partner of The Hundred, are celebrating the installation of 100 new community cricket pitches across England and Wales with Jermain Defoe and Fleur East (Image: Michael Leckie) 'It's an amazing campaign and it's really good to be involved,' he said. 'This is pitch number 100, so it was only right that I picked the bat up and hit a six. 'To see families come out, the pros come out, and see that connection with the community is really nice. 'My grandad loved cricket. I remember being at my nan's house and my grandad, with his St Lucian background, was always watching cricket, supporting the West Indies. 'Years later, I was at West Ham with Shaka Hislop and through Shaka, I met Brian Lara and became friends. It's a fantastic sport and one I want to go and watch soon.' Through their Everyone In campaign, KP Snacks are on a mission to inspire and enable more families & communities to get more active through cricket and create more opportunities for people to get involved and have a healthier lifestyle through the sport. East, who hails from Walthamstow, took a break from starring as Tina Turner in the music icon's self-titled musical to wield the willow for the first time. The 37-year-old, whose smash hit Sax hit number three in the UK charts in 2015, said: 'It has been so much fun to be here, get involved and see everyone active. 'I've never played cricket before in my life and didn't know too much about it, but I managed to do a decent bowl and hit a four with the bat so I'm taking the win. 'Everyone was having such a good time and I learned pretty quickly that even though I didn't have too many skills, it's easy to get involved and it was a lot of fun trying to master it. 'I was inspired by all the kids as well, they were little stars. Having opportunities like this for future generations is amazing. 'I have a daughter who is 16 months old and if I can get her into cricket as soon as she can do it, then I will!' KP Snacks, the Official Team Partner of The Hundred, are celebrating the installation of 100 new community cricket pitches across England and Wales as part of their Everyone In campaign. To find out more and search for your nearest pitch, visit: .
South Wales Argus
a minute ago
- South Wales Argus
Joe Root's appetite for runs impresses fellow ‘Fab Four' member Kane Williamson
The pair, plus Australia's Steve Smith and India's Virat Kohli, have lived up to their billing after being banded together and touted as future greats by former New Zealand batter Martin Crowe in 2014. Root shows no sign of slowing down with 22 hundreds in his last 61 Tests and he recently moved up to second on the list of all-time top run-scorers in the format, now sitting 2,378 behind India's Sachin Tendulkar. Kane Williamson (pictured) has been impressed by Joe Root (Mike Egerton/PA) The 34-year-old's prolonged purple patch has so impressed Williamson – the former New Zealand captain – who is no doubt his contemporary seems like he could keep going for a lot longer. Williamson, who turned 35 on Friday, said: 'Joe's just remarkable with what he's doing and where he's going and the things he's ticking off, at the moment. It's incredibly special and great to follow. 'I'm just full of admiration for that. He's a little bit younger than me, which is even scarier, he could keep going and it feels like he could well do for about 20 years!' While Williamson, Root and Smith continue their Test careers, Kohli, the eldest of the quartet, called time on his career in the longest format earlier this year. Williamson said: 'You never really consider it and you do see some of your opponents and mates making some of these decisions and you think 'gosh, it has been a while', and you're not getting younger. 'It's a reality at some stage. For someone like Virat, who made that decision to go out on his own terms and do what he's done for the game, that's amazing. That's so special. 'Everyone was caught by surprise because you feel like it will never happen, but it does. I'm more aware of that than most – and that's great.' Williamson, with New Zealand's blessing after electing against signing a central contract, has skipped the Black Caps' ongoing Test series in Zimbabwe to play county cricket and The Hundred this summer. David Warner and Kane Williamson are in the house! 🚨#TheHundred — The Hundred (@thehundred) August 5, 2025 As well as a stint with Middlesex, he is captaining London Spirit, again joining forces with former Australia batter David Warner, an ex-international foe and team-mate at several franchise leagues. Williamson added: 'He's without doubt been one of the greatest in the franchise T20 game. The heights he reached in the Indian Premier League, he's so highly-regarded, he's been one of the all-time greats. 'He's a little bit further down the line in terms of his career but he still has that quality in him and it's great to have him in our team.'
The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Dozens of hot air balloons take to the skies above Bristol
Dozens of hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes have filled the skies above Bristol for the city's annual fiesta. Around 90 balloons took part in a mass ascent at Ashton Court Estate, where the popular event takes place, on Friday morning. Hundreds of fans were up early to watch the opening ceremony of the free-to-attend Bristol International Balloon Fiesta justafter 6am, with balloon burners lighting up to mark the start of the event. One balloon then took to the sky with a union flag, followed by dozens of other brightly coloured balloons which flew over Bristol towards Bath, Somerset. Commercial balloon pilot Tom Hilditch, 35, from Brighton, was among the pilots to fly in the mass ascent and praised the 'idyllic conditions'. He said: 'It was great to fly with all the other balloons. 'There were idyllic weather conditions, with nice slow winds. 'The winds were a little too variable when trying to find a landing spot but otherwise it was a perfect morning.' Mr Hilditch, who has had his pilot's licence for 13 years, is planning to cycle around England towing a hopper balloon – which does not have a basket – to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust next year. This year's fiesta, running from Friday to Sunday, will celebrate Bristol and its heritage links to the world of hot air ballooning. The activity has been part of Bristol's culture for many years, with the first recorded flight in the city dating back to the 18th century. During the fiesta, balloons are scheduled to take off early morning and evening – though this is weather permitting. Special shape balloons will be present at the event, including the Up balloon, Thomas the Tank Engine, Sonic the Hedgehog, Astro the Alien, Rupert the Bear and Oggy the Friendly Dragon – which comes from America. There is also a Wallace & Gromit Moon Rocket balloon, Buster and Bella the Bulldogs, Slither the Snake, Snow White, an Ordnance Survey Map and BBC Globe. In the evenings, night-glows – where dozens of tethered balloons light up in sync to a special musical soundtrack – will take place.
