Steve Smith, Australia’s top batter, is the first direct addition to Welsh Fire for The Hundred 2025. As teams begin to assemble their rosters in preparation for The Hundred Draft on March 12, the right-hander has been signed on deadline day.
The 35-year-old was originally scheduled to compete in The Hundred’s first edition in 2020, but he was unable to do so because the tournament was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Five years later, he now has the opportunity to showcase his skills in the fast-paced 100-ball style.
“Joining Welsh Fire later this summer makes me very happy. It’s fantastic that I can finally travel to Wales because I was supposed to be with The Hundred at the start of the competition. I’ve seen The Hundred from a distance and am eager to participate. It looks like a lot of fun, and every side has quality, so it’s clear that the cricket is world-class. The BBC cited the former regular Australian captain as stating, “I’m excited to try out a new format and hopefully play my part for Mike Hussey and the rest of the boys.”
Steve Smith is a notable addition to a team that already consists of players like Jonny Bairstow, Tom Abell, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore. The team is getting ready for a successful 2025 season under head coach Mike Hussey, an Australian cricketer. Welsh Fire has been able to hold onto top foreign players Shabnim Ismail, Jess Jonassen, and Hayley Matthews in their women’s team. Tammy Beaumont, an England batter, will remain the team’s leader.
“Being able to return to Welsh Fire means a lot to me. We’ve developed a solid core of players over the last few years, and it’s wonderful to see so many of them coming back as we aim to build on that together for another season. I’m eager to return to Sophia Gardens and perform for our incredible Cardiff audience. After barely losing at Lord’s in 2024, we’re motivated to go all the way and win the competition this year,” she stated.
Steve Smith will rank among The Hundred’s top paid players.
Instead of only using The Hundred Draft, the teams were permitted to personally sign one men’s and one women’s athlete this year through private negotiations. Attracting top players like Smith has been made possible in large part by the financial support of private investors, like as Sanjay Govil, who just purchased a 50% share in Welsh Fire.
Meanwhile, Smith’s signing is a 60% increase in salaries for The Hundred 2025, which has helped attract top international talent. Smith is likely to earn 200,000 pounds for his spell with Welsh Fire, making him one of the highest-paid players in the tournament. Marcus Stoinis (Trent Rockets), David Miller (Northern Superchargers), and Rashid Khan (Oval Invincibles) of Afghanistan are among the other well-known players entering The Hundred this season.
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