The Hundred 2023: Meet Northern Superchargers as Matthew Potts & Linsey Smith name players to watch
- Published
Matthew Potts (left) and Linsey Smith (right) have told us which players you should keep an eye on this year
The Hundred returns on 1 August, but how are Northern Superchargers shaping up ahead of the third season?
BBC Sport has spoken to a player from their men's and women's teams and worked with data analysts CricViz to assess Superchargers' chances and key players.
Who are they?
Ground: Clean Slate Headingley, Leeds
Men's captain: Wayne Parnell
Men's coach: James Foster
Women's captain: Hollie Armitage
Women's coach: Dani Hazell
Previous record: Men: 2021 - fifth; 2022 - sixth; Women: 2021 - sixth; 2022 - fifth
When are Northern Superchargers' fixtures?
Northern Superchargers fixtures in the 2023 Hundred | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Team | Date | Time (all times BST) | Venue |
Birmingham Phoenix | 3 August | Women at 15:00, Men at 18:30 | Clean Slate Headingley |
Southern Brave | 6 August | Women at 11:00, Men at 14:30 | Ageas Bowl |
Trent Rockets | 9 August | Women at 11:30, Men at 15:00 | Trent Bridge |
Oval Invincibles | 11 August | Women at 15:00, Men at 18:30 | Clean Slate Headingley |
Manchester Originals | 13 August | Women at 11:00, Men at 14:30 | Clean Slate Headingley |
London Spirit | 18 August | Women at 15:00, Men at 18:30 | Lord's |
Manchester Originals | 20 August | Women at 11:00, Men at 14:30 | Emirates Old Trafford |
Welsh Fire | 22 August | Women at 15:00, Men at 18:30 | Clean Slate Headingley |
BBC coverage: Games in bold (see time column) are live on BBC TV & iPlayer, with every match having ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. The BBC Sport website and app will have live text updates, the TV/radio coverage, in-play video clips plus contributions from Hundred super fan community and all the best stats. |
How are they shaping up?
Tom Banton has moved from Welsh Fire after struggling in 2022, scoring just 83 runs in six innings
BBC Sport has worked with data analysts CricViz to look at the strengths and weaknesses of each side.
Men's team
Superchargers added Matt Short and Tom Banton to their top order during the off-season - and alongside Adam Lyth they should provide plenty of firepower.
However, Superchargers had both the lowest average and strike-rate against leg spin last season and the lack of a quality left-hander could hamper them, limiting the quick scoring of middle order batters Adam Hose, Harry Brook and David Wiese.
Reece Topley brings some much-needed pace quality to the attack at the top and tail of the innings, as support to his England team-mate Adil Rashid.
Superchargers have all-round options elsewhere, although they will have to be smart to get the best out of the likes of Wayne Parnell, Wiese and Brydon Carse considering the quick-scoring nature at Headingley.
Women's team
Superchargers had elected to go for an all-Australia overseas trio, with stand-in captain Alyssa Healy and all-rounders Heather Graham and Georgia Wareham providing a multitude of high-level skills in all departments.
However Healy and Graham have been forced to pull out through injury and are replaced by Australia batter Phoebe Litchfield and India's Jemimah Rodrigues.
Litchfield, 20, is an extremely talented prospect but potentially lacks the power, and certainly the experience, of Healy, while Rodrigues does not offer the same all-round game that Grahm would have.
The most significant domestic recruitment has been the capture of England seam bowler Kate Cross, who is making a cross-Pennine switch from the Originals to a ground which has traditionally favoured seam bowlers.
England fringe player Alice Davidson-Richards has had a brilliant couple of years - taking 14 wickets and scoring 131 runs in The Hundred - and will be looking to add quality with bat and ball to an inexperienced line-up.
The recent development of Wareham's power game - she hit 26 off one Lauren Bell over in the Ashes - may give Superchargers an edge and the late-innings momentum they need to make the difference in the closer matches.
Who do the players think you should keep an eye on?
BBC Sport spoke to a player from each men's and women's team and asked them to pick two key players to watch and to consider their chances this year.
Northern Superchargers bowler Matthew Potts: "It will be nice to work with Bas de Leede. I've seen him train over the last couple of months at Durham and have got to know him as a player. He has a lot to offer in the white ball and he could surprise everyone.
"Reece Topley at the top swinging it as well, he's proven time and time again that he is the best with the new ball in white-ball cricket.
"We've had good squads so far but we just haven't been able to get the results that we've probably deserved, so hopefully this year can be different."
Northern Superchargers spinner Linsey Smith: "Bess Heath will definitely bring some explosive batting and she will try and put the ball into the stands, which should be good to watch.
"Georgia Wareham is obviously a great signing for us, a really good leg-spinner, so she will be really exciting as well and will hopefully pick up some big wickets.
"A lot of teams are looking strong this year but the balance we've got and the explosivity is going to be really exciting."
Where will they finish?
Now it's your turn to have your say. Pick how you think the men's and women's group-stage tables will finish and share them on social media using #BBCCricket, external.
Read about the other teams: Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, Welsh Fire.