The Hundred | Team Preview: Superchargers need others to fill big boots of Stokes, Alyssa Healy,

The Nothern Superchargers don’t have an extensive list of world-beating cricketers and more so, they will be without their biggest match-winner in the inaugural edition of The Hundred. However, what they certainly have are the cricketers who know how to get the get required job done.

Their skipper Faf du Plessis does not have a reputation like the skippers of the current generation have but he certainly has an astute mind which he has proven over a long period of time in international cricket. Also, he has been there and done the role of an enforcer at the top of the order for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League and the job would be no different when he will walk out to bat for the Superchargers.

The spin twins of Adil Rashid and Mujeeb ur Rahman can’t be rated on the standards of Imran Tahir, Sunil Narine or Rashid Khan, but nonetheless, they have been the effective weapons of choice of their respective side at the international level for some time.

Northern Superchargers Men Squad

Big players: Faf du Plessis, Ben Stokes, Chris Lynn, Adil Rashid

Mujeeb Ur Rahman, David Willey, Adam Lyth, Brydon Carse, Harry Brook, Matthew Fisher, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Callum Parkinson, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, John Simpson, Jordan Thompson

Head coach: Darren Lehmann

The Ben Stokes factor

Ben Stokes will return to charge the Superchargers but not for long as he has been recalled in the Test squad for the home series against India. He will play only two games for the Superchargers and things could not have gone far worse than that for them as they will be losing one of the biggest matchwinners of the current generation.

The presence of Stokes in the middle order for the entire tournament would have given the batting lineup much impetus and a lot of freedom to the likes of Faf du Plessis to bat freely at the top of the order.  

England-heavy side

A lot of Superchargers’ fortune will be dependent on their overseas stars such as Chris Lynn, du Plessis, Mujeeb ur Rahman, but the core of the team is built around English talents.

Yorkshire’s Harry Brook has had a dream run of form in the England domestic T20 competition and along with the experienced Adam Lyth can provide enough backbone to the bating group once Stokes will leave.

The bowling department will be spearheaded by David Willey, who has earned a recent callback from the England white-ball side and Adil Rashid—Eoin Morgan’s go-to spinner in the white-ball formats.

An emerging all-rounder, Brydon Carse, who has enhanced his reputation in the just-concluded ODI series against England will try to maximise the batting at the lower order and strengthening the bowling attack with his accurate seam bowling.

Chance of lifting the title

Although the Superchargers have promising depth in both the bowling and batting department, they lack the cutting edge competency from the outset to lift the trophy.

They would miss Stokes dearly and his presence would have made a major difference in their fortunes.

Probable XI

Faf du Plessis (C), Ben Stokes, Chris Lynn, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, John Simpson (WK), Ben Raine, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Norther Superchargers Women’s squad

Hollie Armitage, Ami Campbell, Laura Kimmince, Jemimah Rodrigues, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Laura Wolvaardt, Alice Davidson-Richards, Phoebe Graham, Sterre Kalis, Kalea Moore, Bess Heath, Beth Langston, Helen Fenby, Katie Levick, Linsey Smith

Big players: Jemimah Rodrigues, 

Captain: Lauren Winfield-Hill

Alyssa Healy's absence

The absence of the superstar Australian will be surely be felt on the strength of the Superchargers Women squad, at least from the outset. However, they will have the luxury of having Lauren Winfield-Hill, who has been in the form of her life in the past few months as the leader of the pack.

The Superchargers Women will also be buoyant about the presence of Jemimah Rodriques, who has been one of the most enterprising women cricketers across the world. The Superchargers Women will be a bit wiery of her form though.

They also replaced Healy with South African Laura Wolvaardt and they will bank on her to provide substance with the bat.

Chance of lifting the title

Like the Superchargers Men, the Women too lack the firepower to go all the way. However, they would bank on experienced and in-form players to raise their game to compensate for the absence of X-factor players such as Healy.

Probable XI

Lauren Winfield-Hill, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues, Laura Kimmince, Hollie Armitage, Sterre Kalis, Bess Heath (WK), Kalea Moore, Linsey Smith, Beth Langston, Katie Levick