Giles White 'Excited' By Coaching Group Heading Into The Hundred Player Draft

The Hundred’s Southampton-based team will begin to take shape on Thursday, 3^rd October, with the unveiling of the team’s name, playing kit and the first player signings for the men’s and women’s teams.

Giles White is the Cricket Manager of the men’s team, which will play its matches at the The Ageas Bowl, and is excited to be helping shape the squad ahead of the inaugural competition, which starts in July 2020.

White sees his role as an advisor to the men’s coaching team, led by Mahela Jayawardena, and a link to the team’s board. The current Director of Cricket at Hampshire believes his knowledge of the domestic game in the region and 100-ball format will help Jayawardena build a well-run team.

And White isn’t the only one in the men’s setup with outstanding knowledge of the domestic game, with former Hampshire captain and current Assistant Coach Jimmy Adams and Sussex’s Academy Director Richard Halsall joining Jayawardena and Shane Bond in the coaching setup.

“It’s a very exciting coaching group,” White said. “Mahela and Shane have worked together in the IPL and they form a very strong partnership. Both have extensive experience in the shortest format of the game and they have very clear ideas.

“We also have two highly regarded local coaches in Richard Halsall and Jimmy Adams - we feel that all bases are covered.”

The first challenge for the coaching team is to build a squad capable of challenging for the inaugural title. With two local icons and an England red ball-contracted player to be announced on 3^rd October, the remaining 13 places on the roster will be filled in the Men’s Player Draft on 20^th October, live on Sky.

With over 600 domestic and international players entering the Men’s Player Draft, the management and coaching structures at the eight city-based teams have been working hard on identifying their preferred players.

“We’ve been challenged by time zones but have been able to discuss a strategy as a management group on conference calls,” White added. “So far, we all seem to be aligned in our thinking and Mahela has a clear view on the type of player he would like in his squad.

“We feel there is a place for both [star players and local icons] and as always it’s about trying to find the right balance. First and foremost, it’s about picking the players that fit with the style of play that we feel gives us the best chance of success.”