The Hundred Next Gen - four youngsters to watch in 2024

There will be 15 live matches in The Hundred on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, with ball-by-ball commentary on every game on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app

The Hundred 2024

Dates: 23 July-18 August

Coverage: 15 matches live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer with ball-by-ball commentary on every game across BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app.

Some of the best cricketers in the world are heading to the UK for the fourth edition of the Hundred, which begins on Tuesday.

But it is not just about international talent; the competition also gives some of the best young homegrown players the chance to show off their skills.

But who are the England stars of the future?

BBC Sport has looked at four young players taking part in this year's Hundred who could press their case for future international recognition.

Tilly Corteen-Coleman

Age: 16 Team: Southern Brave Role: Left-arm spin

Left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, who only turns 17 in August, was snapped up by Southern Brave in April's Hundred draft.

If she plays in either of their first two matches she will become the youngest player to feature in the Hundred, breaking the record held by her South East Stars team-mate Alice Capsey.

Her performances have earned comparisons with current England international Sophie Ecclestone, the number one-ranked bowler in the world.

"I saw her in a second XI game for South East Stars last summer and she reminded me so much of Ecclestone it was untrue," former England captain Charlotte Edwards told Sky Sports.

"She has leapt on to the scene this summer."

The month after being selected by Brave, Corteen-Coleman took four wickets with successive balls for Stars against Northern Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, ending with figures of 5-19.

She also made her debut for England Under-19s during the tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year.

"She has something about her," former England international Lydia Greenway told Sky Sports.

"She is tall like Ecclestone, she is a good athlete, she is pretty good in the field and has got a good attitude as well."

Josh Hull

Age: 19 Team: Manchester Originals Role: Left-arm fast bowler

Standing at 6ft 7in, left-armer Josh Hull, who has been signed by Manchester Originals, is an intimidating presence for batters even at such a young age.

The teenager took a wicket with the fourth ball of his first-class debut for Leicestershire against Yorkshire in April 2023.

Later that summer he successfully defended eight runs in the last over of the 2023 One-Day Cup final as Leicestershire beat Hampshire by two runs.

Hull, who says he wants to emulate Australia left-armer Mitchell Starc, has already been name-checked by England managing director Rob Key, who is keen to develop a clutch of fast bowlers ahead of the next Ashes tour in 2025-26.

"We have earmarked people. We are keeping a good eye on Josh Hull as that left-armer," said Key in his recent press conference after naming the squad for the West Indies Test series.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph earlier in the summer, Key said: "I don't care how many wickets you take - I want to know how hard you are running in, how hard you are hitting the pitch and are you able to sustain pace at 85-88mph?"

Talking to BBC Sport, former West Indies T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite said: "There is a lot to like about him. There’s an ease to his run up and everything looks effortless.

"He has all the attributes - he’s tall, rhythmic and he’s got the pace.

"He needs to learn to understand about himself and what type of bowler he wants to be. He’ll learn that by playing high-level cricket and this is the perfect platform for him."

Seren Smale

Age: 19 Team: Birmingham Phoenix Role: Top-order batter and wicketkeeper

Wrexham-born Seren Smale, who represented Wales at under-15 level, was part of the England team that reached the final of the inaugural Under-19s T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2023.

The teenager played six matches at the tournament, scoring 121 runs at an average of 30.25, including a player of the match display against Pakistan.

She earned her first professional contract with Lancashire Thunder later that year and was signed by Southern Brave for the 2023 Hundred, though she did not feature.

However, her impressive performances for Thunder earned Smale a call-up to the England A squad for the tour of New Zealand at the start of 2024.

Smale is currently the fifth-highest scorer in this year's Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with 360 runs, at an average of 40.

She also averaged 34.50 in the Charlotte Edwards Cup to continue her strong season.

“My season has been much better than last year - I’ve settled in more this year. I would say I’ve matured this year,” Smale told BBC Sport.

Former England bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt, who Smale would feature for England in future, added: “I’d say you’re going very well, probably better than most.”

Jacob Bethell

Age: 20 Team: Birmingham Phoenix Role: Batter & off-spinner

Jacob Bethell was born and raised in Barbados but moved to England aged 12 and signed for Warwickshire.

He made his debut in 2021 and quickly earned international recognition, being named vice-captain as England Under-19s reached the final of the 50-over World Cup in West Indies.

Last month he hit a 15-ball half century for Birmingham Bears in the T20 Blast, the second-fastest by an English player in the 22-year history of domestic T20 cricket, as well as the fastest for the Bears and fastest at Edgbaston.

As a left-hander he has been tipped to add balance to England's batting line-up, while his development as a spin bowler means he could be a potential long-term replacement for Moeen Ali.

He played two Hundred matches for Welsh Fire in 2022 before making his debut for Birmingham Phoenix last year.

Former England batter Ian Bell labelled Bethell as "the best 17-year-old" he had ever seen and cited his emergence as one of the factors that contributed to his own retirement.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan told BBC Sport: "Jacob Bethell is not that far away from an England call-up. He is a fine young player, I rate him. He’s very talented.

"England will start looking beyond next March’s Champions Trophy and to the next World Cup. He’ll be a cricketer that England are watching very closely."