Four more are snapped up for squads
WEST Midlands-based Phoenix have added another quartet of stars to their squads for the first-ever season of The Hundred.
The men have bolstered their batting line-up by securing Somerset red-ball captain Tom Abell , Kent opener Daniel Bell-drummond and Gloucestershire opener Miles Hammond.
Wolverhampton-born England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss joins the women’s team, which already boasts fellow England stars Amy Jones and Kirstie Gordon.
Only one place now remains in both squads.
The men’s will be finalised with the selection of the Vitality wildcard and the final women’s team member will be confirmed next month.
The men will be captained by England all-rounder Moeen Ali, with New Zealand international and fellow all-rounder Sophie Devine skippering the women.
“It means a huge amount to captain my home team in The Hundred and it will be a very proud moment when I lead Birmingham Phoenix out at Edgbaston for the first time,” said Moeen.
“The squad has really taken shape, with the best domestic players snapped up alongside outstanding overseas players in Kane Williamson and Adam Zampa. I can’t wait for us to get started.”
All four men’s and women’s home games will be played back to back on the same day, starting on Friday, July 23 when Phoenix take on London
He’s someone we’re taking care of and making sure he’s absolutely bang on for when he returns.
Lee Blackett
THOMAS Young ‘has a chance’ of returning for Wasps against London Irish this weekend.
The Welsh flanker has missed the last three games having suffered a concussion tackling Mike Brown during the 49-17 home defeat to Harlequins in round seven.
“He’s had a couple of slight issues along the way,” said Wasps head coach Blackett.
“We’re not a club who is going to push someone forward. He’s had a couple [of concussions] in the last 18 months as well.
“He’s someone we’re taking care of and making sure he’s absolutely bang on for when he returns. He does have a chance for this week but we will see as the week goes on.”
Wasps recently gave winger Zach Kibirige an extended period of rest following his knockout against Sale Sharks despite having passed return to play head injury assessments. The player himself later agreed the right call was made.
“There’s more and more research coming out, there’s more and more things coming forward,” said Blackett.
“You’re hearing how it affects people later in life and as a club, our medical side, our coaches, the last thing we want to be doing is pushing someone out there that’s not right when you’re hearing some of the stories that are happening with former players. The game for me is going in completely the right direction at the moment. There’s a lot being done around this.”
Elsewhere in Wasps’ squad, Blackett gave the following updates:
Simon Mcintyre (calf ): “I don’t know the full extent at this moment in time. Last I heard, I’ve not had an update this week, but, I think we’re six weeks away.”
Ryan Mills (foot): “It’s a slow one that one. I couldn’t tell you a time
frame for his recovery at the moment.” Sam Wolstenholme (calf): “A couple of weeks.”
Will Porter (groin): “Is back training.”
Sam Spink (foot): “Was back out today outside running but I think he’s a little bit away. Probably a couple of weeks.”
Lima Sopoaga (calf): “Another one who was outside today.”
Marcus Watson (Achilles): “It’s a fraction longer I think with Marcus.”
Jack Willis (knee): “He’s not had surgery yet, once he’s had surgery we will know more.”
Blackett also confirmed that prop Biyi Alo, who hasn’t featured since the Premiership final in October, had his cast removed from wrist surgery and is potentially six weeks away from a return to action.
With Jack Owlett ‘on the verge’ of being available after a niggling Achilles injury.
And with Kieran Brookes set to learn the length of his ban following his red card on Saturday in this evening’s disciplinary, Blackett confirmed Wasps were set to bring in a tighthead prop on-loan ahead of Saturday’s game.
Joe Launchbury’s stress fracture that saw him withdraw from England’s Six Nations squad last month is ‘going well’ and Blackett is hopeful the Wasps captain will be ‘up and running’ in the next couple of weeks – but also added a cautious six-week estimate if the recovery does not go to plan.
Blackett said last week that Alfie Barbeary was ‘definitely over a month away’ with his recovery from a syndesmosis injury suffered against Sale Sharks on December 27.
Juan de Jongh was a travelling reserve at Welford Road last week indicating he has shaken off his injury issue.
Will Rowlands is away with Wales in preparation for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with England.