The T20 Blast, currently named the Vitality Blast for sponsorship reasons, is a professional Twenty20 cricket competition for English and Welsh first-class counties. The competition was established by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2003. It is the top-level Twenty20 competition in England and Wales.
Cricket is one of the most popular sports in England, and has been played since the 16th century. Marylebone Cricket Club, based at Lord's, developed the modern rules of play and conduct. The sport is administered by the England and Wales Cricket Board and represented at an international level by the England men's team and England women's team. At a domestic level, teams are organised by county, competing in tournaments such as the County Championship, Royal London One-Day Cup, T20 Blast and the Women's Twenty20 Cup. Recent developments include the introduction of a regional structure for women's cricket and the establishment of The Hundred for both men's and women's cricket. Recreational matches are organised on a regional basis, with the top level being the ECB Premier Leagues.
Samuel Robert Hain is a cricketer who plays for Warwickshire County Cricket Club and represents England. He is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm off spin. He made his debut for the county in the 2013 Yorkshire Bank 40 against Worcestershire.
Amy Ellen Jones is an English cricketer who plays as a wicket-keeper and right-handed batter for Warwickshire, Central Sparks, Birmingham Phoenix, Perth Scorchers and England. She made her England debut in 2013 and is a holder of an ECB central contract.
Richard Martin Cox is an English cricketer who has also worked as a coach and administrator. He played Minor Counties cricket for Herefordshire, and has served in various administrative roles, most notably as CEO of the Royal Dutch Cricket Board between 2009 and 2015.
The Hundred is a 100-ball cricket tournament involving teams in major cities across England and Wales run by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) which took place for the first time in 2021.
Manchester Originals are a franchise 100-ball cricket side based in the city of Manchester. The team represents the historic county of Lancashire in the newly founded The Hundred competition, beginning in the 2021 season, and playing at Old Trafford.
Southern Brave is a franchise 100-ball cricket side based in the city of Southampton. The team represents the historic counties of Hampshire and Sussex in the newly founded The Hundred competition, which took place for the first time during the 2021 English and Welsh cricket season. Both the men's side and the women's side play at the Rose Bowl, Hampshire.
London Spirit are a franchise 100-ball cricket side based in North London. The team represents the historic counties of Middlesex, Essex and Northamptonshire in The Hundred, which took place for the first time during the 2021 English and Welsh cricket season. Both the men's and women's sides play their home games at Lord's.
Northern Superchargers are a franchise 100-ball cricket side based in the English city of Leeds. The team represents the areas of North East England and Yorkshire in The Hundred competition, which first took place during the 2021 English and Welsh cricket season. Both sides play at Headingley Cricket Ground.
Oval Invincibles is a franchise 100-ball cricket side based in South London. The team represents the historic counties of Surrey and Kent in the newly founded The Hundred competition, which took place for the first time during the 2021 English and Welsh cricket season. Both the men's side and the women's side plays at The Oval.
Trent Rockets are a franchise 100-ball cricket side based in the city of Nottingham. The team represents the historic counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire in the newly founded The Hundred competition, which took place for the first time in the 2021 English and Welsh cricket season. Both the men's and women's sides play at Trent Bridge.
Evelyn Jones is an English cricketer who currently captains Central Sparks, as well as playing for Warwickshire and Birmingham Phoenix. She plays primarily as a left-handed opening batter, as well as bowling left-arm medium. She has previously played for Shropshire, Staffordshire and Lancashire, as well as for Loughborough Lightning and Lancashire Thunder in the Women's Cricket Super League, New Zealand side Canterbury Magicians and Women's Big Bash League team Melbourne Renegades.
Marie Kelly is an English cricketer who is currently the captain of Warwickshire, as well as playing for The Blaze, Northern Superchargers and Trinbago Knight Riders. She plays primarily as a right-handed batter. She led Warwickshire to the 2019 Women's Twenty20 Cup title, and was the leading run-scorer in Division 1 that year. She previously played for Southern Vipers, Central Sparks, Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets.
Gwenan Mai Davies is a Welsh cricketer who currently plays for Warwickshire. She plays as a wicket-keeper and left-handed batter, as well as occasionally bowling right-arm medium-fast. She has previously played for Wales, Somerset and Central Sparks, as well as Yorkshire Diamonds and Surrey Stars in the Women's Cricket Super League and Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.
Bethan Louisa Ellis is an English cricketer who currently plays for Warwickshire and Central Sparks. She plays primarily as a right-arm medium bowler, as a well as a right-handed top-order batter. She has previously played for Shropshire, Worcestershire, Derbyshire and Lightning.
Thea Francis Brookes is an English cricketer who currently plays for Surrey. An all-rounder, she plays as a right-handed batter and right-arm off break bowler. She previously played for Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Central Sparks, as well as Loughborough Lightning, Yorkshire Diamonds and Southern Vipers in the Women's Cricket Super League and Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.
Hannah Louise Baker is an English cricketer who currently plays for Warwickshire, Central Sparks and Birmingham Phoenix. She plays as a right-arm leg break bowler. She previously played for Worcestershire and Welsh Fire.
The 2021 season of The Hundred was the inaugural season of The Hundred, a professional franchise 100-ball cricket tournament involving eight men's and women's teams located in major cities across England and Wales. The tournament was run by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and took place for the first time, having been delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 English cricket season began on 4 April and finished on 3 October 2021. It was the 121st season in which the County Championship has been an official competition and featured First-Class, List-A and Twenty20 cricket competitions throughout England and Wales.
