3 Welsh Fire Players who could end up with most runs in The Hundred Men’s Competition 2021
Representing the county of Glamorgan in the inaugural edition of The Hundred are the Welsh Fire franchise. The team based at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens is one of the eight participating franchises in the first-ever 100-ball competition in the UK, beginning July 22.
Welsh Fire will open up their campaign with an away fixture against Northern Superchargers on July 24. They’ll play a further three games outside their base venue in Cardiff and will play in front of their loyal home fans for four of their eight league stage matches.
As per the tournament format, if Welsh Fire finish at the top of the points table after the league stage, they’ll get a direct entry into the tournament final at Lord’s on August 21. A second or third place finish will help them set up an Eliminator to try and earn the second finalist’s spot. Teams who finish below the top 3 are compelled for first-round exit in The Hundred.
Welsh Fire’s squad includes a decent mix of youth and experience, especially on the batting front where they have the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton available among others. It’s these competent batsmen that we are focusing on today, enlisting a few names who could potentially end as The Hundred’s top run-getters from the team Welsh Fire.
Also Read: 3 Southern Brave Players Who Could End Up With Most Runs In The Hundred Men’s Competition 2021
Jonny Bairstow will be representing team Welsh Fire in The Hundred
Which Welsh Fire batsman could end as The Hundred’s top run-getter?
1. Jonny Bairstow
Out-of-favour for the England Test side, Jonny Bairstow is expected to be available for The Hundred in its entirety for Welsh Fire. Bairstow is inarguably one of the world’s best contemporary white-ball batsmen. The elegant right-hand batter now boasts of an incredible limited-overs record after 89 ODIs and 54 T20Is. Bairstow has made 3,498 runs at an average of 47.91 and strike-rate of 105.01 in ODIs and has struck 1,114 runs in T20Is at 137.19 runs per 100 balls. He has also shown stellar form in limited outings for Yorkshire in the T20 Blast this season. Bairstow’s ability to shape cricket matches at the top could prove impactful for Welsh Fire.
2. Glenn Phillips
New Zealand right-hand batsman Glenn Phillips is another solid candidate to be The Hundred’s top run-maker from the Welsh Fire squad. Phillips has been in excellent form in T20s over the last one year. The 24-year-old finished as the second best run-scorer in CPL 2020 and then carried that magnificent form forward through the Kiwi international home summer where he amassed 366 runs from 12 innings at an average of 40.66 and strike-rate of 184.84. Phillips is also the second highest run-getter in the T20 Blast 2021 right now, with 423 runs at an average of 60.42 and strike-rate of 162.06, including the best score of 94 not out.
3. Tom Banton
Considered one of the brightest young England batting talents, Somerset right-hand batsman Tom Banton has been in top form in the T20 Blast this season. Banton had made 236 runs from his seven innings at an average of 39.33 and strike-rate of 195.04 before he was called in for England’s series against Sri Lanka. Banton, 22, has already played 6 ODIs and 9 T20Is for the three lions and will be eyeing a bumper season with Welsh Fire to potentially seal his spot for the T20 World Cup in UAE this year.