Before the actual Hundred Publish comes the one that is mock!
For a bit of fun, we now charged Ian Ward, Nasser Hussain, Rob Key and Isa Guha – most of whom will be part of our coverage of this Hundred Draft on Sunday night – to make their first-round picks.
Thirteen areas were up for grabs, with the likes of Kagiso Rabada, David Warner, Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Rashid Khan vying for a cool # 125k and selection – but that way did our pundits go?
Learn below and then watch the Hundred Draft appropriate, live on Sky Sports from 7pm on Sunday night…
(NB: Pre-selected’neighborhood pub’ players listed in bold)
Rob Key: Andre Russell (West Indies, all-rounder):
“You need complete value along with your overseas picks. The Hundred will be about setting it from the playground, bowling well in the very top and bowling closely at the passing – and Russell does all three.”
Ian Ward: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan, spinner)
“He’s your No 1 choice, complete stop. Much like Kyler Murray from the 2019 NFL Draft; he’s the standout player”
Isa Guha: Rashid Khan
“He is the MVP, in my opinion. Mystery twist, so critical in cricket, I’d be considering Russell – a hard-hitting all-rounder – however, Rashid is just too good to pass up.
Nasser Hussain: Rashid Khan
“He is the ideal white-ball, franchise spin bowler and I have got two nice batsmen in Joe Root and Alex Hales, along with also a left-armer at Harry Gurney already.”
RK: Rashid Khan
“He is a puzzle spinner and recognized wicket-taker – among the very successful short-form bowlers in the world.”
NH: Andre Russell
“I am not going to waste my 5 125k on anyone that is not verified grade and Russell ticks all the boxes”
IW: Andre Russell
“Russell provides death-bowling and he whacks it kilometers with the bat. Add him Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan there, it is 1 hell of a speed trio! That’s 60 deliveries of this 100 accounted for .”
IG: Andre Russell
“With Rashid off the plank, the Brave will go for Russell. Super destructive, with ball and bat.
IW: David Warner (Australia, opening batsman)
“You have already got the wrist-spin of all Adil Rashid, the left-arm of David Willey, therefore let us get a batsman in there. Warner is the very finest available and ends up connecting up with [coach] Darren Lehmann again.”
NH: David Warner
“I think they want a opening batsman and also Darren Lehman at the helm, Warner’s powerful ball-striking leaves him a standout choice. I’d also make him based on the way he led Sunrisers Hyderabad and in the T20 Tri-nations for Australia.”
IG: Mitchell Starc (Australia, left-arm pace)
“I was deliberating over picking a top-order batsman here, maybe Chris Lynn, however, the left-arm speed of Starc is simply too precious.”
RK: Mitchell Starc
“He’s not merely the very best death bowler on the planet but he bowls at the very best; the one thing he doesn’t have on Russell is that the batting.”
RK: Sunil Narine (West Indies, spinner)
“I kind of get what national cricket does not have to offer; there are plenty of good batsmen in cricket, don’t get me wrong, but there are not puzzle spinners such as Narine which is the reason why I go for them . Plushe can whack it”
NH: Mitchell Starc
“This is simple in the sense that they clearly need a bowler, together using Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton and Colin Ingram currently in the side. Starc is crushing on his day. A real match-winner.”
IW: Mitchell Starc
“The Fire want bowlers; they could examine the puzzle spin of Sunil Narine here. Starc is available. It only depends in which order they go.”
IG: Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka, rate bowler)
“In case Starc is off the plank, I think the Fire will opt for Malinga. They have got three batsmen currently; they need a bowler, also he’s quality – especially at the death, bowling his yorkers.”
RK: Kagiso Rabada (South Africa, right-arm speed )
“Let’s assume he’s about, instead of playing for South Africa. His pace leaves him a at also a threat at the passing and the very top. I’ve always thought the game is about bowling.”
IW: Aaron Finch (Australia, opening batsman)
“Finch along with Jason Roy opening the batting in The Oval, thanks very much. Excellent chance bowling at both!”
NH: Aaron Finch
“Finch appears a natural fit, given his connection to the Oval and the opportunity to join with fellow Aussie Tom Moody. Roy and Finch know every other well – it’s a lively combination that is excellent up front.
IG: David Warner
“The organic choice could be Finch, because he’s been at Surrey and knows The Oval well. However, I believe as Tom Moody is coach, he will go with Warner – they have spent a lot of time in the IPL together with Sunrisers.”
NH: Kieron Pollard (West Indies, all-rounder)
“He is a high-quality franchise cricketer with a demonstrated track record. I’d like a opening batsman but using Warner and Finch gone, I really could go Gayle – but Pollard gets the nod as I believe he’d win more games at the moment.”
IW: Sunil Narine
“What you want from your overseas selections is what’s less-widely available in domestic cricket. Mystery spin. He could whack at it if you would like a pinch-hitter at the top of the purchase. It’s no real surprise to me Matt Parkinson is currently with Manchester; you need two spinners in Old Trafford, a larger ground.”
IG: Sunil Narine
“Head coach Simon Katich and spin-bowling coach Carl Crowe have both worked with Narine previously with all the Kolkata Knight Riders.”
RK: David Warner
“They’ve got their spinner in Matt Parkinson, therefore I’m seeking to the top of the order. An attacking batsman who gives more just like Chris Gayle. I think this game will be about volatile cricketers.”
IG: D’Arcy Short (Australia, opening batsman)
“That is a tough one. With Eoin Morgan already hailed free of 10 local icon’ player as their’ , they do not get another pick. They desire a death bowler plus a hard-hitting allrounder however, I understand that [trainer ] Shane Warne is still really a huge fan of Short, therefore I feel that’s who they go for.”
NH: D’Arcy Short
“I believe Shane Warne will be amazing during this procedure. They’re short on peak of the order and Shane likes Short; Short isn’t at the top-tier bracket but Shane won’t wish to miss him out .”
IW: Lasith Malinga
“D’Arcy Short is somebody they may be eyeing up but, with batsmen already in their squad, you are likely to want a bowler, especially a passing bowler, therefore Malinga is your pick.”
RK: Lasith Malinga
“There aren’t many domestic cricketers who would have confronted Malinga, so there is still more than a place of mystery in his armoury. That said I would be worried about his fitness”
NH: Babar Azam (Pakistan, opening batsman)
“Andrew McDonald wants Finch, but I’ve already chosen him. With Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Pat Brown already inked in, they need batsmen. His availability worries me but I am pleased to have a punt on the No 1 T20 batsman on the planet.”
IW: Babar Azam
“I’m likely to pick the No 1 ranked T20 batsman on the planet at the moment, Babar, to open to your Phoenix. There’s plenty of Pakistani cricket followers in the Birmingham area, so that’s a wonderful fit.”
RK: Mohammad Amir (Pakistan, left-arm fast)
“Guaranteed to be accessible today he’s retired from Test cricket, his left-arm pace will establish a danger.”
IG: Aaron Finch
“Finch remains on the table and a natural fit to fill one of those opening areas at Edgbaston.”
RK: Glenn Maxwell (Australia, all-rounder)
“They’ve got two good bowlers already in Parkinson and Saqib Mahmood; I visit Maxwell as a hitter but in addition a’bowl me a couple’ bowler and gun fielder. He is in the heat of the match.”
IW: Glenn Maxwell
“Maxwell has performed at Old Trafford for Lancashire. That’s a small advantage, exactly like with Finch at The Oval – he’ll know the area, requirements, and sit at exactly the same place in the dressing room.”
IG: Chris Lynn (Australia, opening batsman)
“I was looking at Maxwell or Shane Watson, however, I have Lynn teaming up with Narine [Manchester’s possible earlier pick] at the peak of the sequence, just like at Kolkata.”
NH: Chris Gayle (West Indies, starting batsman)
“I am a bit worried that his kind may have tailed off of late night – will he come off enough time to win you enough games? However, you can not doubt his track record.”
RK: AJ Tye (Australia, right-arm fast)
“He is down the sequence just a tiny bit but I believe that the danger in this draft is that you get fixated with all the top-brand players, whereas I believe half of the challenge of the is becoming strength throughout your squad. Tye is among the greater death bowlers in the world so that I would pick him up sooner instead of later.”
IW: Kieron Pollard
“Pollard. Hard-hitting allrounder, whacking the ball on those boundaries down in Cardiff. Excellent luck!”
IG: Mohammad Amir
“Another huge choice, since the Fire don’t have a second-round choice, what with Colin Ingram and Tom Banton already slotted in their group. I’m enticed by Maxwell again, but I think that they’ll go for yet another high quality bowler and a left-arm option in Amir.”
NH: Glenn Maxwell
“I want to bulk from the middle-order – that I do not wish to wind up like Royal Challengers Bangalore and have high guns at the top but be a tiny lightweight further down. Maxwell strikes down the ground so should succeed at Cardiff with the shorter right boundaries.”
RK: Shane Watson (Australia, opening batsman)
“He’s been written off time and time again but he is a proven winner at T20 cricket using the Chennai Super Kings; I believe he’ll be a large trier – you want someone with something to show. He’s also quite good at turning and delivering despite not enjoying a lot”
IW: Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal, spinner)
“I am presuming Lamichhane here, another mystery spinner to bowl in tandem with Adil for your Superchargers.”
IG: Glenn Maxwell
“Lehmann sticking with all the Aussies; they’ve subsequently got a legspin choice in Adil and offspin in Maxwell.”
NH: Kagiso Rabada
“With Warner, Stokes, Rashid and Willey locked in I believe I’m going to require an opening bowler. The single real question with Rabada is how much he may be available next summer.”
RK: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan, right-arm twist )
“Jofra Archer might not perform much – however they’ve James Vince and Chris Jordan. Mujeeb provides just a little bit of puzzle and he knows the floor well, also, having played previously at the Ageas Bowl.”
NH: Mujeeb Ur Rahman
“I require a spinner – and also a mystery spinner too. Mujeeb is priced competitively and I would back him to win with me a few games.”
IW: Trent Boult (New Zealand, left-arm speed )
“Left-armer. They could opt for Amir, however I only like Boult like a cricketer.”
IG: Kieron Pollard
“I think [trainer ] Mahela Jayawardena may go for Pollard for this selection, with their IPL connection with the Mumbai Indians. Plus, Pollard joining Russell in the middle-order is a pretty devastating mix!”
RK: Quinton de Kock (South Africa, wicketkeeper-batsman)
“I need my abroad to give more than just batting. I think that in batting that is short-form your batsmen are hit-or-miss whomever you are but the bowlers, all-rounders and wicketkeepers would hopefully have an effect in every game. De Kock accounts the team by being able to open and keep.”
IW: Chris Gayle
“Gayle! Opening the batting Alex Hales, together with this brief border one side at Trent Bridge.”
IG: Chris Gayle
“I’m tempted by Dwayne Bravo, linking along with his Chennai Super Kings trainer Stephen Fleming. However, they can always get him with the first pick of the next round, so I’m trying for Gayle also before he is no longer offered.”
NH: Sunil Narine
“Ideally, I need a batsman to open with Hales. I’m actually going to go with Narine as he will open up the batting and provides you a twist option as well.”
The Hundred Draft – Live will soon be shown on Sky Sports Cricket, Sky One, Main Event & from 7pm on Sunday.
It is going to also be available via Sky Sports’ Facebook and YouTube stations, in addition to live on the Sky Sports app and streamed skysports.com.