Australia and Ashes hero Steve Smith has expressed his excitement over The Hundred after being signed by Welsh Fire for £125,000.
Star batsman Smith placed himself in the top price bracket ahead of Sunday’s draft and was snapped up by Gary Kirsten’s Welsh Fire who will be based in Cardiff.
The 30-year-old, who was banned for ball-tampering last year, enjoyed a stunning Ashes series over the summer, scoring 774 runs in seven innings to help Australia draw the series 2-2 and retain the urn.
Smith is one of a number of Australia stars who will play in The Hundred, with the likes of Mitchell Starc (Welsh Fire), David Warner (Southern Brave) and Glenn Maxwell (London Spirit) also fetching lucrative offers.
‘I’m looking forward to joining the Hundred,’ Smith, discussing his deal from Sydney, said on Sky Sports. ‘It’s going to be exciting to be involved in the first 100-ball comp.
‘It’s a good squad they’ve picked up so far. Tom Banton’s another good signing, he looks like a quality player.
‘It should be a good tournament. It’s a bit different – I’m sure it’ll be a learning curve for first few games but it’s really exciting for cricket, it’s going to be full of fire.’
England World Cup-winner Liam Plunkett, former South Africa spinner Simon Harmer and Essex hero Ryan ten Doeschate were also signed by Welsh Fire.
Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton and Colin Ingram were assigned to the Cardiff-based team ahead of the draft.
On the ECB’s new competition, England Test captain Joe Root said on Sunday: ‘The ECB has done an incredible job so far in the launch of it, and the draft is only going to add to the excitement.
‘People were very sceptical about T20 when it was first launched in 2003, but look how that has turned out. If everyone comes into it with an open mind, it will be a success I’m sure.’
Afghanistan mystery spinner Rashid Khan was the first pick of the evening, also securing himself a contract worth £125,000.
