<p>Welsh Fire added big-hitting West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard to their squad while Southern Brave signed up Australia opener David Warner for The Hundred, the England and Wales Cricket Board's franchise-based league which begins in July.</p>.<p>The eight men's teams collectively added 35 players from a pool of more than 500 overseas and English cricketers to their rosters following the draft, details of which the ECB released on Tuesday.</p>.<p>All teams now have one wild card pick each to fill their final slots in June.</p>.<p>"I can't wait to come and play in The Hundred, it's an exciting new cricket competition and I'm really pleased to be part of it," number two pick Pollard said in a statement.</p>.<p>"... With Jhye (Richardson) joining as well, I think this Welsh Fire team has got some serious firepower in both bowling and batting line-ups, so I believe we can put on a real show."</p>.<p>West Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran was the men's first pick in the draft and he was joined in the Manchester Originals squad by South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.</p>.<p>A further eight English and eight Australian women's players were announced for the women's tournament, including Meg Lanning (Welsh Fire), Sophie Molineux (Trent Rockets) and Alyssa Healy (Northern Superchargers).</p>.<p>The women did not have a draft, with teams set to continue filling their squads over the coming months.</p>.<p>The ECB has invested heavily in The Hundred, a competition it believes will attract younger audiences to the sport. Matches will comprise 100 balls per innings with a change of ends after 10 deliveries.</p>.<p>The launch of the inaugural edition was postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>The women's competition will mark the start of The Hundred with Oval Invincibles meeting Manchester Originals on July 21, a day before the men's teams face off.</p>
<p>Welsh Fire added big-hitting West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard to their squad while Southern Brave signed up Australia opener David Warner for The Hundred, the England and Wales Cricket Board's franchise-based league which begins in July.</p>.<p>The eight men's teams collectively added 35 players from a pool of more than 500 overseas and English cricketers to their rosters following the draft, details of which the ECB released on Tuesday.</p>.<p>All teams now have one wild card pick each to fill their final slots in June.</p>.<p>"I can't wait to come and play in The Hundred, it's an exciting new cricket competition and I'm really pleased to be part of it," number two pick Pollard said in a statement.</p>.<p>"... With Jhye (Richardson) joining as well, I think this Welsh Fire team has got some serious firepower in both bowling and batting line-ups, so I believe we can put on a real show."</p>.<p>West Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran was the men's first pick in the draft and he was joined in the Manchester Originals squad by South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.</p>.<p>A further eight English and eight Australian women's players were announced for the women's tournament, including Meg Lanning (Welsh Fire), Sophie Molineux (Trent Rockets) and Alyssa Healy (Northern Superchargers).</p>.<p>The women did not have a draft, with teams set to continue filling their squads over the coming months.</p>.<p>The ECB has invested heavily in The Hundred, a competition it believes will attract younger audiences to the sport. Matches will comprise 100 balls per innings with a change of ends after 10 deliveries.</p>.<p>The launch of the inaugural edition was postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>The women's competition will mark the start of The Hundred with Oval Invincibles meeting Manchester Originals on July 21, a day before the men's teams face off.</p>