Ben Stokes is set to miss this year’s Hundred after not being included in the Northern Superchargers squad as retained players and new signings were announced on Tuesday.
It had been reported that England Test captain Stokes would not participate in the tournament with his fitness and the forthcoming Ashes in Australia in mind.
The 33-year-old all-rounder tore his hamstring while playing for Andrew Flintoff’s Superchargers in the Hundred last August.
Stokes was then ruled out for at least three months after tearing the same hamstring during the third and final Test of England’s series in New Zealand in December, and underwent surgery in January. He is currently sitting out England’s Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan.
England’s men are next in Test action with a one-off contest against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May.
The team then have a five-match home Test series against India which is scheduled to conclude the day before the start of the Hundred, which runs from August 5 to 31, with the Ashes then getting under way in November.
The signings announced on Tuesday included Australia star Steve Smith, who is joining Welsh Fire.
Batter Smith said in a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board: “I’m delighted to be joining Welsh Fire later this summer.
“I was due to be involved with The Hundred at the beginning of the competition so it’s great to finally be able to make it to Wales.
“I’ve watched The Hundred from afar and I can’t wait to be involved. It looks a lot of fun and obviously the cricket is world class, with talent at every team.
“I’m looking forward to trying out a new format and hopefully playing my part for (head coach) Mike Hussey and the rest of the boys.”
Also among the new signings are Smith’s compatriots Meg Lanning (Oval Invincibles), Megan Schutt (Birmingham Phoenix) and Marcus Stoinis (Trent Rockets), New Zealand’s Trent Boult (Birmingham Phoenix) and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan (Oval Invincibles).
England players retained include Jos Buttler (Manchester Originals), Joe Root (Trent Rockets), Harry Brook, Adil Rashid (both Northern Superchargers), Nat Sciver-Brunt (Trent Rockets) and Sophie Ecclestone (Manchester Originals).
It is the first time teams have been able to sign one men’s and one women’s player directly, rather than having to do do through the Hundred Draft.
The retentions and signings saw 148 places confirmed across the squads, with 68 left to fill.
The Draft takes place on March 12, with a final chance to make squad additions coming at May’s Wildcard Draft, where teams can add two final men’s and women’s players, rewarding stand-out performers in domestic cricket.
