The Hundred League just ended on 18th August 2024, in which we saw Oval Invincibles slay it till the end of the tournament and win the title of the tournament. The tournament was a roller coaster ride where we saw so many potentially rich, talented players among all the teams.
Here in this article, we will disclose our best playing eleven from the tournament that would have made it nearly impossible for any team to win against. Although we all know cricket is a team game, more than just the talent and skill set, you also need to endure that unity in the team by using the strengths of the players to the advantage of the team and seeking victory rather than individual milestones.
Sam Curran
The bowling all-rounder who did wonders in the tournament this year broke the record for giving out the best performance in a single game, where he smashed a century and took a five-wicket haul in the same game.
He would provide the team of best 11 with a greater depth in all the departments, as his strength was his versatility to bat and bowl in any situation, not just specific areas of the department, which could be his USP too, further for the auction next year. He was the third-highest wicket-taker of the Hundred League this year, totaling up to 17 wickets, and the 8th-highest run scorer.
Ben Stokes
The captain of the England team who led a great series recently against the West Indies and won it with a greater gap. He could lead the team of the best 11 efficiently, as he has the much-needed experience to lead a team. Being an all-format player, he can allocate the roles of the players pretty well.
He himself provides the team with a better balance by being a versatile player who can bat or bowl anywhere and anytime when needed for the team. He played for the Northern Superchargers this season but got an early exit from the Hundred League due to his hamstring injury, which also raised concerns about him being available for the national duties as well.
Nicholas Pooran
The hard-hitter from the West Indies, Nicholas Pooran, played for the Northern Superchargers this season, in which he ended up being the 4th highest scorer of the tournament. He managed to make a total of 227 runs with an impressive average of 45.40 in the Hundred League. He could be used as an opener for the best 11 to begin destruction from the start.
Adam Zampa
The spinning wizard from Australia ended up as the highest wicket-taker of the Hundred League with 19 wickets in his pocket. He was a part of the Oval Invincibles and was one of the crucial reasons for contributing to the victory of the team and taking wickets in such a fast-paced format where bowler’s nightmares are seen often; he performed exceptionally well.
Tymal Mills
The England-born left-arm pacer who made the ball swing crazily for the batsman and gave us a taste of test match bowling by showing off his skills in the Hundred League. He took the same amount of wickets as Adam Zampa i.e. 19 but with a slightly higher economy than Zampa of 9.30 whereas Zampa had an economy of 7.33 in the tournament. He could be utilized for bowling from the new ball in the best 11, as his left-arm pacing action can create a problem for the openers of the opposition.
Chris Jordan
He played a major part in some of the victories of the Southern Brave in the Hundred League. He recently played for England in the T20 World Cup and has represented England in various international matches. His experience with international players can be useful for the best 11 and choke the opposition from scoring runs.
Jofra Archer
The right-arm pacer is known for his windmill bowling action, which gives him the strength to get the bowl near to the wickets or batsman sooner than he can predict, and he usually gets a wicket out of his terror of bowling onto the body of the batsman.
Though in this season of the Hundred League, his performance did not really come out well, after he came back from his injury and its recovery, he has been finding his right speed and pitching.
Akeal Hosein
The slow left-arm magician from the West Indies who played for Souther Brave in the Hundred League. He is known for bowling the first over from white ball cricket, mainly because his variations are extravagant.
He can spin and swing the ball in both directions simultaneously, which makes it harder for the batsman to pick and hit. He could be the great potential spinner for the best 11 to add as a surprise element for the opposition.
Also Read: 4 Elite overseas players in the Hundred League Women
An experienced county cricket player who led the team of the Southern Brave in the Hundred League. He ended up as the highest scorer of the tournament, totaling up to 424 runs, and even managed to make his team reach the finals, where he made 24 runs but unfortunately could not score more and lost it. His experience in county cricket and playing on those grounds could help the team’s best 11 in planning and execution.
Ben Duckett
The top-order batsman from England played for Birmingham Phoenix in the tournament and made the 2nd most runs out of all the teams. His total runs were 269 with a huge average of 67.25 and a staggering strike rate of 171.33, which is ideal for this format. His striking ability to hit from the power play makes him an ideal pick for the best 11.
Rashid Khan
The face of Afghanistan Cricket, a leg spinner whose records are unmatchable at such an early age. He played for the Trent Rockets in this season of the Hundred League and managed to pick up nine wickets only.
Although his form was not great in the tournament and he also got back injury issues chasing him for a year, he is the best choice for providing the team with the support of stopping the flow of runs as he is among the top-rated players around the globe in T20 cricket. His whiteball performance is extraordinarily good for the best 11 to win and nail it.
