Southern Brave beat them to the title, but Birmingham Phoenix are the best-represented team in our selection
Matt Roller22-Aug-2021Quinton de Kock: Southern Brave, wicketkeeper
Two fifties in eight innings represents a lean return by his high standards, but de Kock set the tone for Brave at the top of the order, regularly getting them off to flying starts in the powerplay. Although he failed in both knockout games, he made crucial unbeaten half-centuries in must-win group matches against the Welsh Fire and the Northern Superchargers. There were also some moments of genius with the gloves, notably his sprawling one-handed take off Josh Inglis and a direct-hit run-out at the death, both against the London Spirit at Lord’s.Ben Duckett: Welsh Fire
Form tailed off as captaincy took its toll, but Duckett led the run charts for most of the group stages, starting the tournament with scores of 41, 53, 32 and 65. He has been developing into a fine white-ball player – and has looked particularly assured against spin when sweeping and reverse-sweeping – and has been timing the ball sweetly through midwicket from a good length. Duckett largely batted at No. 3 in the tournament, but shuffled up in the team due to a middle-order logjam.Related
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Moeen Ali, captain: Birmingham Phoenix
Moeen was at his clean-swinging best against spin during Phoenix’s four-match winning streak at Edgbaston, encapsulated by his demolition of Fire’s Graeme White during a knock of 59 from 28 balls. He captained well too, galvanising a young squad and setting a charge to the final in motion before leaving for England Test duty. However, another switch in formats meant he looked uncharacteristically scratchy in the final.Liam Livingstone: Birmingham Phoenix
Shane Warne dubbed Livingstone ‘The Beast’ during his 46 off 19 balls in Saturday’s final, and James Vince, the opposition captain, joked that his eventual run-out was the only mode of dismissal in play given his form in the Hundred. Livingstone finished the tournament with 27 sixes, a dozen more than anyone else, and his performances on free-to-air TV have turned him into one of the best-known active cricketers in the country in a matter of weeks. He also chipped in with the ball, and won both games as stand-in captain while Moeen was away.The men’s Hundred team of the tournament•ESPNcricinfo LtdHarry Brook: Northern Superchargers
Brook missed the Superchargers’ final two group games after contracting Covid-19, but made enough of an impression in his five innings for global franchises to be on high alert. He took his T20 Blast form into the Hundred with 62 off 31 in their opening game, and saw them home in a tight chase against the Oval Invincibles with 47* off 30. Overall, Brook was seen to be generating remarkable power from a snap of the wrists.Samit Patel: Trent Rockets
Patel missed out in the initial draft two years ago – “it served me right for setting a base price,” he joked – but was snapped up in the re-draft and turned out to be a key performer in the Rockets’ run to the eliminator. He took key wickets in the powerplay, squeezed hard through the middle and made crucial runs from the middle order. Although his England days are long gone at 36, Patel still remains a high-quality allrounder.Benny Howell: Birmingham Phoenix
Howell looked unhittable in the Blast for a number of years, but plenty doubted whether he would be able to back those performances up in a tournament where the best talent was condensed. But a runs-per-ball rate of 1.20 across the season provided an emphatic answer, and he was Phoenix’s main man during the middle stages of an innings. It was unfortunate that Howell’s only off-night came in the final.Rashid Khan: Trent Rockets
More expensive than usual, but Rashid was still a trump card, taking key scalps in the middle of an innings and finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker in a four-way tie. He single-handedly changed the game in the Rockets’ must-win encounter against the Manchester Originals in their final group game, even while dealing with the grief and dislocation caused by the worsening crisis at home in Afghanistan. Rashid still eventually ended up edging out Adil Rashid after taking the Rockets into the eliminator.Tymal Mills and Jake Lintott both grabbed wickets at a really low runs per ball•Getty ImagesAdam Milne: Birmingham Phoenix
It beggars belief that Milne is only a travelling reserve for New Zealand’s T20 World Cup squad. He was a cheat code in the Hundred, the only bowler to concede less than a run a ball despite bowling at 94mph or 151kph in the powerplay as well as at the death. That accuracy included Milne nipping the new ball off the seam and nailing yorkers at the death. Also, his caught-and-bowled off Ravi Bopara in the Phoenix’s opening game was a contender for catch of the tournament.Tymal Mills: Southern Brave
Mills was challenged by Eoin Morgan to pitch “a really strong case” for T20 World Cup selection through the Hundred, and responded emphatically. Nerveless at the death, particularly when closing out a tight win against Morgan’s own Spirit, he took 4 for 21 in 36 balls across Brave’s two knockout games. Mills also consistently hit 91mph or 147kph, leaving batters unable to sit deep and set themselves for his repertoire of slower balls.Jake Lintott: Southern Brave
Lintott was Brave’s wildcard pick two months ago, and ended up as their leading wicket-taker despite their stock of England seamers. The left-arm wristspinner claimed some huge scalps in the middle phase and bowled tightly, generally trying to cramp batters for room and pushing googlies across right-handers. Lintott had played only four professional games at the time of the initial draft, but Warwickshire took a punt on him aged 27 last summer, with his stunning rise continuing in the Hundred.
