Welsh Fire

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 team play at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff for their home games.

Welsh Fire
Tân Cymreig
Personnel
CaptainJonny Bairstow
(men's team)
Sophie Luff
(women's team)
CoachGary Kirsten
(men's team)
Mark O'Leary
(women's team)
Overseas player(s)James Neesham
Glenn Phillips
Qais Ahmad
(men's team)
Piepa Cleary
Hayley Matthews
Georgia Redmayne
(women's team)
Team information
Colours   
Founded2019
Home groundSophia Gardens
Capacity16,000
History
No. of titles0
The Hundred title wins0
The Hundred game wins5
(Men's team: 3)
(Women's team: 2)
Official websiteWelsh Fire

History
See also: The Hundred (cricket)
Sophia Gardens in Cardiff

The announcement of the new eight-team men's and women's tournament series in 2019 was not without controversy, with the likes of Virat Kohli criticising the England and Wales Cricket Board for pursuing a shift away from Test cricket,[2] while others argued the format should have followed the established and successful Twenty20 format. However, the ECB decided it needed a unique format to draw crowds.

It was announced in June 2019 that the side would be named the Welsh Fire, and would be joint run by Glamorgan as well as Somerset and Gloucestershire County Cricket Clubs. It would draw on players from the three counties in the inaugural draft.[3] It had been reported that the side might rename to Western Fire, to allay concerns in Somerset and Gloucester that they were not sufficiently represented by the side, but this did not come to fruition.[4]

In July 2019 the side announced that former South Africa and India coach, and current Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Gary Kirsten as the men's team coach.[5] The women's side was due to be managed by Matthew Mott, a former Glamorgan coach and the current Australia women's national cricket team coach, but he withdrew and was replaced by his assistant coach, Mark O'Leary.[6]

The inaugural Hundred draft 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.[7]

Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc were selected as the flagship £125,000 signings in the first round and are two of the side's three overseas stars, along with Afghanistan's Qais Ahmed.

With Colin Ingram and Tom Banton already occupying the £100,000 slots, Welsh Fire sat out the second round.

Ravi Rampaul and Ben Duckett were selected in the third round for £75,000 and Simon Harmer, along with Qais Ahmed, were bought for £60,000 in the fourth.

Liam Plunkett and Ryan ten Doeschate were the picks in the fifth round for £50,000 and Gloucestershire duo David Payne and Ryan Higgins were selected in the sixth round for £40,000.

Danny Briggs and Leus du Plooy complete the squad, having both been bought for £30,000 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.

Honours

Men's honours

The Hundred

  • 7th place: 2021 (highest finish)

Women's honours

The Hundred

  • 8th place: 2021 (highest finish)

Ground
The ground's main entrance
Main article: Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground

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.

Players

Men's side
  • Bold denotes players with international caps.
  •  *  denotes a player who is unavailable for rest of the season.
S/N Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Batting style Bowling style Notes
Batters
1Ian Cockbain (1987-02-17) 17 February 1987Right-handedRight-arm medium
17Ben Duckett (1994-10-17) 17 October 1994Left-handed—
18Tom Banton (1998-11-11) 11 November 1998Right-handed—
76Leus du Plooy (1995-01-12) 12 January 1995Left-handedSlow left-arm orthodoxWildcard pick;
EU passport
—Ollie Pope (1998-01-02) 2 January 1998Right-handed—Centrally contracted
All-rounders
4Josh Cobb (1990-08-17) 17 August 1990Right-handedRight-arm off break
20Matt Critchley (1996-08-13) 13 August 1996Right-handedRight-arm leg break
29Ryan Higgins (1995-01-06) 6 January 1995Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium
50James Neesham (1990-09-17) 17 September 1990Left-handedRight-arm fast-mediumOverseas player
73David Lloyd (1992-06-15) 15 June 1992Right-handedRight-arm medium
Wicketkeepers
23Glenn Phillips (1996-12-06) 6 December 1996Right-handedRight-arm off breakOverseas player
51Jonny Bairstow (1989-09-26) 26 September 1989Right-handed—Captain
Pace bowlers
7David Payne (1991-02-15) 15 February 1991Right-handedLeft-arm fast-medium
8Matt Milnes (1994-07-29) 29 July 1994Right-handedRight-arm fast-mediumReplacement player
14Jake Ball (1991-03-14) 14 March 1991Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium
19Luke Fletcher (1988-09-18) 18 September 1988Right-handedRight-arm fast-mediumReplacement player
28Liam Plunkett (1985-04-06) 6 April 1985Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium
Spin bowlers
30Qais Ahmad (2000-08-15) 15 August 2000Right-handedRight-arm leg breakOverseas player
87Graeme White (1987-04-18) 18 April 1987Right-handedSlow left-arm orthodoxReplacement player

    Women's side
    • Bold denotes players with international caps.
    •  *  denotes a player who is unavailable for rest of the season.
    S/N Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Batting style Bowling style Notes
    Batters
    63Sophie Luff (1993-12-06) 6 December 1993Right-handedRight-arm mediumCaptain
    All-rounders
    4Bryony Smith (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997Right-handedRight-arm off break
    44Alice Macleod (1994-05-14) 14 May 1994Right-handedRight-arm off break
    50Hayley Matthews (1998-03-19) 19 March 1998Right-handedRight-arm off breakOverseas player
    64Georgia Hennessy (1996-11-04) 4 November 1996Right-handedRight-arm medium
    Wicketkeepers
    7Nat Wraith (2001-10-03) 3 October 2001Right-handed—
    8Georgia Redmayne (1993-12-08) 8 December 1993Left-handed—Overseas player
    30Sarah Taylor (1989-05-20) 20 May 1989Right-handed—
    Pace bowlers
    17Piepa Cleary (1996-07-17) 17 July 1996Right-handedRight-arm mediumOverseas player
    25Alex Griffiths (2002-06-12) 12 June 2002Right-handedRight-arm medium
    99Katie George (1999-04-07) 7 April 1999Left-handedLeft-arm mediumCentrally contracted
    —Lauren Filer (2000-12-22) 22 December 2000Right-handedRight-arm medium
    —Amy Gordon (2001-10-03) 3 October 2001Right-handedRight-arm medium
    Spin bowlers
    2Nicole Harvey (1992-09-18) 18 September 1992Right-handedRight-arm leg break
    3Hannah Baker (2004-02-03) 3 February 2004Right-handedRight-arm leg break

      See also
      •  Cricket portal
      •  Wales portal

        References
        1. "The Hundred: Team-by-team guides, coach details and venues". Sporting Life. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
        2. sport, The Guardian (28 August 2018). "Virat Kohli gives ECB's 100-ball 'experiment' the thumbs down". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
        3. "Cardiff Hundred team may drop 'Welsh' from name in favour of 'Western Fire'". ESPN.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
        4. "Cardiff Hundred team may drop 'Welsh' from name in favour of 'Western Fire'". ESPN.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
        5. www.uprisevsi.co.uk, upriseVSI. "England and Local Cricket Stars Align for Welsh Fire". Glamorgan Cricket. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
        6. "The Hundred: Meet the Welsh Fire". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
        7. "The Hundred: Central contract and local icon 'drafts' explained". ESPNcricinfo. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.

        Further reading
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