Smith, Gayle among most expensive players in 'The Hundred' draft

LONDON, Oct 16 (Agencies): The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced Australian duo Steve Smith and David Warner and West Indies opener Chris Gayle are among the most expensive players listed in Sunday's draft for the new domestic tournament The Hundred.

Smith helped Australia retain the Ashes in England last month while Warner endured a miserable series, managing just one fifty in five tests.

Paceman Mitchell Starc, who played just one Test in that series, is the third Australian in the six-man group who will command a 125,000 pounds ($159,400) reserve price, the ECB said in a statement.

Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga and fellow speedster Kagiso Rabada of South Africa are the other players in the top bracket for the inaugural edition of the 100-ball competition, which will be played in July-August next year.

The Hundred is the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) 's new 100-ball tournament, which will be played in July-August 2020. It will be played by eight new teams, based in seven different cities (there are two London teams).

The eight franchises have already filled three positions in their squad - one centrally contracted England Test player and two "local icons" apiece - and will choose another 12 each during October 20 televised draft.

A total of 570 players will be in the men's draft, including 239 overseas players and 331 domestic players.

Five of the eight city-based sides will have an Australian in charge with Shane Warne, Darren Lehmann and Tom Moody among them. None of the men's teams have a local coach.

Twenty20 stalwarts Rashid Khan of Afghanistan and West Indian Andre Russell, with an identical 100,000 pounds reserve price, are among 239 players from outside the UK to enter the draft.

England World Cup winners Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett headline the 331 domestic players who have put their names forward for the draft.

"Teams will select 12 players on the night - with a maximum of three overseas picks - who will join the already-announced England red-ball contracted players and Local Icons," the ECB said in a statement.