The second edition of The Hundred is set to run from August 3rd, 2022 and final squads are starting to fall into place. The inaugural tournament received mixed reviews from the cricket purists, but it was a big hit with the fans as a whole new generation of supporters embraced the format.
London had two representatives in the 2021 men’s Hundred. Oval Invincibles and London Spirit flew the flag for the capital,but it ended in disappointment in both camps. Can 2022 bring about a change in fortunes?
Ratings for 2022’
Despite showcasing their skills at the home of cricket, London Spirit didn’t exactly turn their Lord’s ground into a fortress. Eoin Morgan’s side won just once as they finished at the bottom of the table.
Oval Invincibles fared better with four wins from eight games. The return put them in fourth place, but it wasn’t enough to secure a place in the playoffs.
Ahead of the second edition of The Hundred, the pundits are expecting more of the same. Early betting markets as supplied by SBO list Oval Invincibles as fourth favourites while London Spirit are the rank outsiders from the eight teams on show.
As the tournament approaches, there may be some scope for those figures to change and any updates will be reflected on the website. SBO.net will also publish breaking news stories about issues that could influence the destination of the trophy.
There’s lots of information available and it’s possible to put that knowledge to the test. Any of the sportsbooks mentioned will be ready to accept new customers subject to eligibility and a secure sign up form.
Once registration is complete, there will be a range of funding methods available to get things moving and many of those bookmakers publish a welcome promotion. Fast and friendly customer services can help with any issues.
Moving forward, a range of additional sports, mobile betting via an app and live markets are among the other benefits to look forward to. It’s the site to follow in terms of betting on The Hundred but is there a hope that the London teams can upset those odds?
Spirit’s Raised
London Spirit have some strong reinforcements for 2022. Travel restrictions around the world affected their plans 12 months ago but the squad shows some improvements for this year.
The big news sees two world class all-rounders join up at Lord’s. Australia’s Glenn Maxwell and Kieron Pollard from the West Indies bring the quality and experience that should help lift the Spirit off the bottom of the table.
Paceman Mark Wood is an interesting inclusion. When fully fit, Wood remains as one of the fastest bowlers in English cricket,but he is under an injury cloud as the competition draws closer.
Another key player is the skipper Eoin Morgan. England’s limited overs captain endured a slump in form in 2021 and he needs to get back to his best.
Familiar Faces at the Oval
Oval Invincibles will retain much of the squad that took them to fourth place in the inaugural edition of The Hundred in 2022. Sam Billings will skipper the team and it’s hoped that key all-rounder Sam Curran will be fit and available to play a full part.
The Invincibles’ location means that many of Surrey’s key one day players will be included in the squad. Jason Roy will need to score heavily at the top of the order while Surrey teammates Rory Burns and Will Jacks offer the batting support.
The overseas picks are low key in comparison to those of London Spirit. Supporters of Sunil Narine would disagree with that suggestion, but the spinner no longer carries the mystery of the past. Fellow overseas picks Hilton Cartwright and Rilee Rossouw help to bolster the batting.
Prospects for 2022
2021 wasn’t a complete disaster for London teams in The Hundred. The women’s Oval Invincibles team won their section and will be strong again this season.
As for the men, London Spirit may have finished at the bottom,but they have done more to strengthen their team in the close season. Improvement is the first aim but can either of the capital’s teams go all the way in 2022?
