The Originals followed up a fruitless 2021 campaign in the Hundred with a run to the Final in 2022.
There has not been much change in terms of the squad setup and it will be hoped that Jos Buttler can be available for a full season, having played just seven times in the previous two tournaments.
Manchester Originals 2022 Hundred performance
It was a strong showing from the Originals in 2022, finishing second in the league stage with the best net run rate out of the eight teams.
They saw off London Spirit with relative ease in the Eliminator, before narrowly losing out to Trent Rockets in the Final.
There was not a lot of consistency with the batting throughout the tournament aside from Phil Salt, and Buttler. Salt was the constant at the top of the innings, scoring 353 runs in ten innings and passing fifty three times.
Embed from Getty ImagesButtler was on course for a similar output, scoring 203 in five innings before he was ruled out. Others chipped in, with Andre Russell smashing 148 in six innings. Laurie Evans, Wayne Madsen and Tristan Stubbs all made over 150 runs each in nine innings apiece.
Evans scorched his total at a strike rate of 184.9, while Paul Walter and Ashton Turner each contributed at times with each striking at over 165.
Walter was the understated performer for the Originals, picking up a tournament-leading 14 wickets with an economy of 7.11. It was arguably Josh Little's breakout tournament, as he was brought in midway through and picked up an incredible 13 wickets in just five games.
He took the wickets at an economy of 7.42 and catapulted him into the eyes of many around the world, picking up a deal with then-defending champions Gujarat Titans for the 2023 Indian Premier League, the first Irish international to be picked up at an IPL auction.
Embed from Getty ImagesSpinners Matt Parkinson and Tom Hartley were superb, taking 11 wickets each with decent economy rates. England pacer Richard Gleeson unfortunately only managed three matches before being ruled out.
Changes to the Manchester Originals squad in the 2023 Hundred draft
There will be a lot of familiarity with the Originals this season, with the majority of the squad being retained. Evans and Turner were then drafted back in, with England Test seamer Josh Tongue also added during the Hundred 2023 draft.
Fred Klaassen, who played for Manchester in the first two editions, was brought back via the 2023 Hundred wildcard draft. Max Holden, one of the few bright spots for Middlesex in the 2023 t20 Blast, was the second wildcard pick.
Embed from Getty ImagesKlaassen has since been replaced by Ben Raine, who has played previously for the Northern Superchargers.
For the second season in a row, Wanindu Hasaranga will not be available for the Originals. He has been replaced by Pakistan leg-spinner Usama Mir, who impressed with Worcestershire in the Blast.
How the 2023 Manchester Originals Hundred squad is shaping up
Potential starting XI: Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Laurie Evans, Wayne Madsen, Ashton Turner, Paul Walter, Jamie Overton, Usama Mir, Tom Hartley, Richard Gleeson, Josh Little
The likely top three of Buttler, Salt and Evans has shown to be one of the most destructive in domestic cricket in recent years, individually at least. To have the experienced Madsen follow them represents good balance, especially given the form the 39-year-old was in in the Blast.
The above lineup features seven bowling options, though it would not be surprising if Holden was selected instead of someone like Overton, who has not bowled much in recent years. Overton does, though, offer big hitting and quick scoring lower down the order.
Embed from Getty ImagesHartley was impressive last season, but with Mir available he could miss out. That being said, the bowling options outside of Mir are just seam, so Hartley could be important in providing balance to the attack and would likely come in for a pacer.
Gleeson has not played since January after he fractured his wrist in the ILT20 and so there are naturally question marks over his fitness and availability.
Should he be unavailable, Hartley would be a good option as a replacement for balance purposes. Stanley and Worcestershire teammate Tongue would represent other pace options.
Little will be unavailable from the 16th August and Pakistan pacer Zaman Khan, who impressed for Derbyshire in the Blast as well as in the Pakistan Super League, has been drafted in as his replacement. The Irish left-armer, though, is set to return for the Eliminator and Final should the Originals qualify.
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