How The Hundred Auction Works: Teams, Tiers, Salary Caps and Key Signings

The Hundred will break new ground in March when it stages its first-ever player auction, turning London’s Piccadilly Lights into a live bidding arena. With fresh salary caps, new overseas rules and more than 200 players in the pool, the 2026 season is being shaped in public.

Here’s everything we know about the upcoming auction so far:

When and where is the auction taking place?

The player auction will be held at Piccadilly Lights in London on:

Wednesday, March 11 – Women’s auction

Thursday, March 12 – Men’s auction

What exactly is happening?

All 16 Hundred franchises will bid to complete their squads for the 2026 season.

Each team can pick up to 14 players across their men’s and women’s squads.

More than 200 eligible players are available in the auction pool.

Who are the headline names in the women’s auction?

The women’s auction opens proceedings on March 11.

Big names available include:

• Beth Mooney
• Nadine de Klerk
• Amy Jones

Who are the headline names in the men’s auction?

The men’s auction takes place on March 12.

Among the biggest names available:

• Joe Root
• Adil Rashid
• Jason Holder

What are the salary caps?

Men’s teams

Total cap: £2.05 million

£950,000 already deducted (all teams made four pre-auction signings)

Remaining budget depends on previous signings

Women’s teams

Total cap: £880,000

Budget deductions:

£310,000 deducted (three signings made):

• Manchester Super Giants Women
• MI London Women
• Sunrisers Leeds Women
• Welsh Fire Women

£360,000 deducted (four signings/retentions made):

• Birmingham Phoenix
• London Spirit
• Southern Brave
• Trent Rockets

How are players categorised in the auction?

Players are split into three tiers, based on aggregated pre-registered interest from franchises:

Hero

Ranked

Nominated

The bidding order:

Hero players go first

Ranked players follow

Nominated players are auctioned last

Which major players have already been signed?

Retained players

Jacob Bethell – Birmingham Phoenix

Jos Buttler – Manchester Super Giants

Nat Sciver-Brunt – Trent Rockets

New signings

Mitchell Marsh – Sunrisers Leeds

Alice Capsey – Birmingham Phoenix

Smriti Mandhana – Manchester Super Giants

What’s changed regarding overseas players?

Franchises can now sign four overseas players, up from the previous limit of three.

Published on Feb 20, 2026