Australia wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney headlined Trent Rockets’ signings on the opening day of The Hundred Draft, with the four-time World Cup winner commanding the joint-highest bid in the women’s competition.
The 32-year-old left-hander, who has more than 200 caps for her country, was signed by Chris Read’s Rockets for £210,000 after competing with Manchester Supergiants for the left-hander’s signature.
Mooney will be joined at Trent Bridge by fellow wicketkeeper-batters Ailsa Lister (£30,000) and Bess Heath (£32,500), with batters Millie Taylor (£27,500), all-rounders Emma Jones (£35,000), Georgia Elwiss (£27,500) and Georgia Adams (£30,000).
Bowlers Katie Levick (£32,500) and Charley Philips (£15,000) completed the Rockets’ signings, with two spots to be filled by Vitality Wildcard picks after the conclusion of the Vitality Blast.
“We’ve come out of the day feeling like we’re in a really good place,” said Trent Rockets Women’s Head Coach Chris Read.
“We managed to stay pretty close to the plan. It was a strange feeling at lunchtime in that we’d only signed one player, but with it being someone of the calibre of Beth Mooney, plan A was very much still on.
“It became more frenetic and frantic as the day went on, but we have a really good blend of experience and youthful exuberance.”
The new arrivals will be joined by Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Ash Gardner and Kim Garth, who were all signed in the direct signing window shortly after Christmas.
Trent Rockets Women’s squad so far:
• Beth Mooney, £210,000
• Nat Sciver-Brunt, £140,000
• Ash Gardner, £100,000
• Sophia Dunkley, £78,000
• Kim Garth, £42,000
• Emma Jones, £35,000
• Bess Heath, £32,500
• Katie Levick, £32,500
• Ailsa Lister, £30,000
• Georgia Adams, £30,000
• Millicent Taylor, £27,500
• Georgia Elwiss, £27,500
• Charley Phillips, £15,000
• Samantha Bates, £15,000
• Grace Johnson, £15,000
“We knew we had a lot of players to sign this afternoon, but we were trying to keep to our plan, look at the value of players and try and build a squad of the quality that we’re comfortable with,” said Trent Rockets Director of Cricket Mick Newell.
“I think fans can expect a lot of runs, boundaries and sixes from this squad, which is what The Hundred is all about.
“We’ve got a strong dynamic batting order of international-quality players at the top of the order, and a group of younger domestic players who like to give the ball a whack towards the end of the innings.
“I want to see some high-scoring games at Trent Bridge, but you also need a strong bowling attack, because the key thing about bowling from a Hundred perspective is you need to take wickets.
“You need the likes of Ash Gardner and Millie Taylor to help you do that; we want to have that quality with bat and ball, plus a dynamic fielding unit.”
Away from Trent Rockets, Sophie Devine also attracted a bid of £210,000, with Welsh Fire signing the New Zealand international.
Danielle Gibson was picked up by SunRisers Leeds for £190,000, while Warwickshire batter Davina Perrin made history as the first player to be bought, with Birmingham Phoenix committing £50,000 to secure her signature.
Trent Rockets’ squads will continue to take shape tomorrow, with the men’s auction commencing at 10am.
