Rosa Simkin (@rosatalksball) – 23/07/24
Competiton – Women’s Hundred
Ground – Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham
Head Coach – Ben Sawyer
Captain – Ellyse Perry
2023 Finish – 8th
^ Amy Jones of Phoenix (Image: Getty Images)
Order of Content – The Draft & Construction of Squad, 2023 Season & What To Expect, The Squad, My Starting XI, Players To Watch, The Leadership, The Schedule & Where To Watch, Tickets.
The Draft & Construction of Squad
It is safe to say Ben Sawyer and Birmingham Phoenix had work to do following a disapointing last placed finish in their 2023 campaign. In the retention stage of the squad formulation, sides have the option to retain up to eight of their 2023 squad. Phoenix opted to use seven of those slots, with overseas firepower Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry signing on as well as domestic quintet Issy Wong, Em Arlott, Hannah Baker, Sterre Kalis and Charis Pavely.
After retention comes The Draft, with sides having to fill any remaining gaps in their top 13 salary bands. Due to their last place finish, Phoenix had the first pick of the draft and had a choice of over 200 players and after the long standing anticipation of who they would select they selected Amy Jones… For those who aren’t aware, Jones has been a member of the Phoenix squad since the first edition of the tournament in 2021 and Phoenix had the option to retain her, yet opted not to and instead used one of their biggest opportunities to sign her. Don’t get me wrong, Jones is one of the best but they could have opted for her AND a star player.
After the slightly shambolic first pick, the second came round and Phoenix elect the final overseas member of their squad and it is another wicket-keeper batter in India’s Richa Ghosh. The following pick sees them retain another member of their 2023 squad, this time the experienced spinner Katie Levick. The next two picks bring another two wicket-keeper batters in Seren Smale and Ailsa Lister. Finally, Chloe Brewer joins the side as another retainee. The boldest decision for Sawyer and Phoenix is not picking 2023 Phoenix captain and three year squad member, opening batter Eve Jones who get’s picked up by Manchester Originals.
This leaves Phoenix with two slots to fill in their lowest two salary bands, done a few months after the March draft in the Vitality Wildcard Draft, which allows domestic form to be rewarded. They bring in the former England international and top order batter Fran Wilson from Western Storm and middle-order big hitter Lissy Macleod from Sunrisers to complete their squad.
Since the draft occured Ailsa Lister has dropped out due to injury, with allrounder Emma Jones of the South East Stars entering the fold to replace her. Richa Ghosh also exits the squad for the first three games as she represents India in the Asia Cup, with New Zealand’s Suzie Bates coming in to replace her for that period.
2023 Season & What To Expect
The 2023 season was far from ideal for Phoenix, with 0 wins from the 7 games they played and resultingly an 8th placed finish. This was arguably owing to a few factors; the season saw a slight shift in leadership, with Sophie Devine handing over captaincy to Eve Jones, who was second change after Ellyse Perry dropped out owing to injury prior to the tournament. In addition, the squad felt disjointed and unbalanced, with too few batters and those at the top of the order failing to get the side off to a positive start too much pressure was put on the tail end of the order, resulting in low undefendable totals and poor performances chasing. In fact, Phoenix was bowled out in two of their games.
The return of Ellyse Perry as well as the additions of Richa Ghosh, Seren Smale and Fran Wilson should change the balance, however. From a bowling point of view, Phoenix had a good season in 2023 and arguably this year have one of the best attacks in the tournament; with a pace bowling line-up of Issy Wong, Em Arlott, Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry and the domestic talent of Hannah Baker, Katie Levick and Charis Pavely in the spin department. They are certainly set to have a better season this time round, or at a minimum avoid the wooden spoon two years on the bounce!
The Squad
Amy Jones, Sophie Devine (o), Richa Ghosh (o), Ellyse Perry (o), Katie Levick, Issy Wong, Emily Arlott, Hannah Baker, Seren Smale, Chloe Brewer, Sterre Kalis, Charis Pavely, Fran Wilson, Lissy Macleod, Suzie Bates* (o), Emma Jones**.
*Overseas replacement for Richa Ghosh for the first 3 games
**replaced Ailsa Lister on 24th of June due to injury.
My Starting XI
Suzie Bates/Richa Ghosh
Sophie Devine
Seren Smale
Ellyse Perry (C)
Amy Jones (WK)
Fran Wilson
Issy Wong
Em Arlott
Charis Pavely
Katie Levick
Hannah Baker
Bench – Chloe Brewer, Sterre Kalis, Lissy Macleod & Emma Jones.
Players To Watch
Star Player – Amy Jones
England international wicket-keeper Amy Jones is widely regarded as the best in the women’s game behind the stumps. The 31-year-old was born and raised in Warwickshire and has played nearly all her cricket at Edgbaston, the earliest being in 2008 when she joined Warwickshire. She enters her fourth year as a part of the Phoenix squad, after failing to retain her she was then picked up by Phoenix via their first pick of the draft. Jones has impressed so far this year after a difficult couple of years with bat in hand. In internationals she has taken 26 dismissals and scored 439 runs, in addition in the four regional T20 games she has played in for the Central Sparks she scored a crucial 168 runs, helping guide the side to Finals Day. In regards to The Hundred she has scored 462 runs across the three editions, taking 16 dismissals.
Young Talent – Hannah Baker
Hannah Baker is certainly used to the playing conditions Edgbaston have to offer, playing her regional cricket with the Central Sparks. The academy graduate has made quite a significant rise in recent years, mostly owing to her crucial performances in England’s final making U19 World Cup campaign last January in South Africa, which saw her take 10 wickets. This season marks her fourth in the Hundred, playing the first and second editions with the Welsh Fire, taking two wickets in season one and one in season two, owing to minimal playing opportunities. 2023 saw her make the move to Phoenix taking six wickets. Right-handed leggie Baker will be looking to build on her form from the season, with 25 wickets across formats so far for the Central Sparks, including 12 in a Charlotte Edwards Cup (T20) campaign which saw them reach the semi-finals.
The Leadership
Ellyse Perry (Captain):
Regarded as one of the greatest in the game, Perry returns to the Phoenix squad after a spell with the side in 2022, this time taking over the captaincy from Eve Jones as she missed last season through injury. The allrounder scored 134 runs on her last visit to Birmingham in 2022 and was a crucial face in the Aussies Ashes retaining campaign last summer on English soil, scoring 401 runs and taking 3 wickets in the series. Her return to the side could be the difference for Phoenix, as she aims to combine her experience, badger like knowledge of the game and ability at the top of the order to guide Phoenix towards a title winning campaign.
Ben Sawyer (Head Coach):
The Kiwi head coach enters his fourth year at the head of the side and will be looking to make significant improvements ahead of this years campaign after his side suffered a disappointing 8th place finish last time out. The balance of the side didn’t quite click for Sawyer and the addition of two captaincy changes is plenty to unsettle a side. 2021 and 2022 were much more successful stories for Sawyer, placing 3rd and 4th respectively and he’ll be looking to make his way back up the table.
The Schedule & Where to Watch
*Home games indicated in bold*
| Date | Opposition | Venue | Time (BST) | Coverage (UK) |
| Tue 23rd July | Oval Invincibles | The Oval, London | 2:45 PM | Sky Sports & BBC Two/ iPlayer |
| Sat 27th July | London Spirit | Lord’s, London | 3:00 PM | Sky Sports |
| Wed 31st July | Trent Rockets | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 3:00 PM | Sky Sports |
| Sat 3rd August | Southern Brave | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 11:00 AM | Sky Sports |
| Tue 6th August | Northern Superchargers | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 3:00 PM | Sky Sports |
| Sat 10th August | Welsh Fire | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 2:30 PM | Sky Sports |
| Mon 12th August | Trent Rockets | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 3:00 PM | Sky Sports |
| Thu 15th August | Manchester Originals | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 3:00 PM | Sky Sports |
Eliminator – Saturday 17th of August @ The Oval, 2.15pm – Sky Sports, BBC Two & BBC iPlayer
Final – Sunday 18th August @ Lord’s, 2.15pm – Sky Sports, BBC Two & BBC iPlayer
Tickets
https://www.thehundred.com/tickets?matches=group
Join in with the action! Tickets start at £5 for Juniors and £11 for Adults in the group stage. After all, every ball counts!
