The T20 Blast is here – and 18 teams kick off their campaign on Friday.
The men’s tournament is set to feature a plethora of stars old and new looking to build their international portfolios across formats – and a star-studded Surrey side is aiming for their first win since their inaugural tournament victory in 2003.
Meanwhile, many women’s sides are suffering from their own success as internationals flock to their World Cup squads – but the handful who remain in the competition are ready to make their coaches lament their omissions.
So, who should you look out for in the 2026 edition? Sky Sports gives you all the answers…
Can Perrin soothe England woes with another stellar Blast campaign?
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Davina Perrin gives her thoughts on becoming the first-ever signing of The Hundred auction and what the competition has done for her career.
Perhaps the most surprising omission from the England women T20 World Cup squad was that of 19-year-old Davina Perrin, who has proved a composure and ability at the crease that is well beyond her years.
The Warwickshire batter lead her side in run-scoring in the 2025 and boasts real limited overs pedigree, hitting the fastest-ever women’s century (101 off 43) in the Hundred eliminator for the Northern Superchargers later that summer – but shockingly, she was still seen as surplus to requirements this summer by England head coach Charlotte Edwards.
“Yeah, she was obviously in the conversations.” Edwards said aftet the squad was named. “It was going to be really hard to displace the openers.
“She probably hasn’t had as much exposure to other places in the order, so you need quite a versatile batter on the bench, but her time will come.”
There’s no doubt that the Englishwoman will be batting with a vengeance in the Blast – should she match last year’s level of production, it will only be a matter of time before she lights up the international game.
Coles looks to build England portfolio in all formats
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On the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Nasser Hussain, Eoin Morgan, and Ravi Bopara react to James Coles being bought for a record-breaking £390,000 by London Spirit in The Hundred men’s auction.
The most expensive men’s player in the Hundred auction is set to make his mark with bat and ball on the T20 Blast.
A right-handed batter and left-arm spin bowler, Coles made his first-class debut for Sussex against Surrey back in 2020 at the age of just 16, dismissing England’s Rory Burns, Jamie Smith and Ben Foakes.
In the six years since, he has developed into one of England’s finest young talents in all formats, having been a key cog in Sussex’s T20 side in recent years, not to mention excelling this winter for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa’s domestic SA20 competition – where his 161 runs and five wickets helped that side win the title.
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Sussex star James Coles hits a match-winning 45 to take Sunrisers Eastern Cape into Sunday’s SA20 final against Pretoria Capitals.
“We are not surprised Colesy has been selected at a high amount – he is one of the best talents in English cricket and has just improved year on year,” Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace told Sky Sports. “He wants to be in the thick of it, doesn’t hide from tough situations and is a genuine all-rounder.”
Coles’ exciting talent, in conjunction with the experience of captain Tymal Mills and the competition’s all-time leading wicket taker in Danny Briggs, suggests real silverware potential for a strong Sussex squad – and there is no telling how far Coles’ star could rise should they succeed.
Absence-ridden Surrey need Monaghan to step up
Alice Monaghan also represents the Manchester Originals in the hundred
Reigning Women’s Blast champions Surrey strolled to the title without losing a single time – but the task looks rather different this time around.
The Brown Caps are without four internationals in the wake of England’s T20 World Cup campaign – namely Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Danni Wyatt-Hodge – leaving significant gaps in their top order and a lack of depth in their attack.
Enter Alice Monaghan. The all-rounder played a bit-part role in Surrey’s victorious 2025 campaign, but is set to be far more involved this time round following some impressive One Day Cup form with the bat and ball, taking five wickets and notching 93 runs in her last three matches.
Monaghan is expected to take a place in Surrey’s top order in the 2026 campaign – but she’s got big boots to fill.
Curran to take Surrey back to short-form glory?
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Sam Curran was hit for 14 in the first three balls, but then dismissed Michael Jones after he skies one into the air.
Despite a staggering nine finals day appearances, Surrey men have not hoisted T20 silverware since the inaugural T20 Blast tournament in 2003, despite a squad boasting arguably the most international-pedigree players in the tournament.
Will Jacks, Jamie Smith, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Jamie Overton, and Australia’s Sean Abbott are just some of the names listed as available for Surrey – but the buck stops with captain Sam Curran.
England’s Sam Curran, T20 World Cup (Associated Press)
Despite an injury that has kept him out of the IPL, Curran is undoubtedly one of England’s premier limited overs talents, demonstrated by his last-over heroics with the ball against Italy and Nepal for the national side at the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Surrey lost in a disappointing defeat to Ravi Bopara’s Northamptonshire in the quarter-finals last year – they will need a fully-fit Curran to be firing on all cylinders if they are to better their finish this time round.
Beaumont isn’t finished yet
Tammy Beaumont, England Women ODI cricket (PA Images)
England stalwart Tammy Beaumont has been to five T20 and ODI World Cups, being named player of the tournament in England’s sole victory in 2017. This year, shockingly she hasn’t been selected. But she’s not done yet – and the T20 Blast gives her the perfect opportunity to prove it.
She takes the stage for a Blaze side stripped of six internationals, including England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones, leaving Beaumont in the unique position to lead her side one further than their semi-final finish.
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Charlotte Edwards reflects on the ‘tough decision’ to not select Tammy Beaumont in England’s T20 World Cup squad, but insists there is still more to come in her international career.
She had a high score of 81 with a strike rote of 162 in last year’s tournament and has posted two straight half-tons in the One Day Cup, including a 99no against Somerset last week.
Arguably England’s greatest ever batter, Beaumont is entering the swansong of her career – the 35-year-old will be hoping for yet another chance at silverware when the Blaze get their campaign under way on Friday.
Watch the T20 Blast live on Sky Sports as well as the Women’s T20 World Cup live in full on Sky Sports from June 12-July 5. Hosts England kick off the tournament on opening night with a game versus Sri Lanka at Edgbaston (6.30pm start).
