All-rounders David Willey and Ash Gardner have been named as captains of Trent Rockets men’s and girls’s teams respectively ahead of the fifth summer of The Hundred.
Willey, 35, is embarking on his debut season with the Rockets after previously spending two years apiece with Northern Superchargers and Welsh Fire, and can take over from Lewis Gregory.
Gardner, 28, joined the Rockets for her first taste of The Hundred last yr, ending as each the side’s second-highest run-scorer and leading wicket-taker.
She is going to assume the role from Nat Sciver-Brunt, with the England captain having stepped down from the captaincy to administer her workload ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup later this yr.
Each Willey and Gardner have captaincy experience, with the previous currently leading Northamptonshire within the Vitality Blast, and Australia international Gardner taking the reins last yr at Gujarat Giants in India‘s WPL.
David Willey & Ash Gardner Experience
Willey has earned over 100 caps for England and was a part of the Three Lions side that won the 2022 T20 World Cup, in addition to also previously playing county cricket for Yorkshire.
In all, he has taken over 300 wickets in T20 cricket, along with 27 in The Hundred, and has scored over 4,500 runs in each formats combined, with 18 fifties and two centuries.
Meanwhile, Gardner has played 180 times for her country in all formats, and is a two-time winner of the Belinda Clark Award, given to Australia’s best female international cricketer.
She has lifted the T20 World Cup on three occasions, in 2018, 2020, and 2023, and over the course of her profession within the format, has scored almost 4,800 runs and brought over 200 wickets.
She starred with the ball through the 2023 Women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, taking eight second-innings wickets to bowl her side to victory.
“I’m delighted to be taking up the Trent Rockets captaincy,” said Willey. “I’ve loved playing in The Hundred over the past 4 years, and I’m excited to be leading such a robust group of players!
“We’ve got an awesome squad and training staff, so I’m looking forward to putting on a show in front of a packed Trent Bridge, and I’m confident this team can bring some success this yr.”
Gardner added: “Playing for the Rockets last yr was a lot fun and it would be incredible this yr to guide the team.
“Taking up from Nat is an honour, and we have now an awesome squad this yr so I’m really excited to get going as captain.”
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