There were a number of exciting talents, both emerging and established, to have been picked up by the respective franchises, while there were also a few notable omissions.
Trent Rockets 2023 Hundred wildcard picks
The defending champions picked up two of the strongest performers in the 2023 t20 Blast, one established name and another emerging talent. Tom Moores stood out for Nottinghamshire as they made it to the quarter finals, being second only behind opener Joe Clarke in terms of runs scored.
This was despite him often coming in during the middle overs. Moores actually played for the Rockets in their victorious 2022 campaign, so it will be famiilar territory for the wicketkeeper. The second wildcard pick for the Rockets was seamer John Turner of Hampshire.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe rather burst onto the scene around midway through the group stage and put up some incredible numbers in just ten matches. He took 20 wickets at an average of just under 11 and had an economy rate of just 6.44.
Manchester Originals 2023 Hundred wildcard picks
Another player to return to their previous franchise, Fred Klaassen of Kent was picked up to provide a left-arm option up top. The 30-year-old, who has represented the Netherlands at international level, played just five times during the 2023 Blast.
His international experience and past ties with the Originals likely gave him an advantage when it came to picking up a deal. Their second pick, though, was much more indicitave of the idea behind the wildcards, which are supposed to be awarded to those who impressed during the recent Blast season.
Despite a rather harrowing season overall, one of the few bright spots from a Middlesex perspective was the form of batter Max Holden. The 25-year-old scored 420 runs in 14 innings, with two fifties and a stunning hundred. His strike rate was also incredible, scoring his runs at a mammoth 185.0.
Embed from Getty ImagesOval Invincibles 2023 Hundred wildcard picks
The Invincibles opted for two fresh faces for their 2023 Hundred campaign during the wildcard picks. They went for Kent opener Tawanda Muyeye to provide depth for a position that already holds plenty of firepower with Will Jacks and Jason Roy.
Muyeye formed a solid partnership with Daniel Bell-Drummond atop the Kent batting lineup, though he scored half as many runs in one innings more. 291 runs in 14 innings may have been a disappointing return in the end, but 22-year-old Zimbabwe-born batter did show his potential with three half-centuries and a healthy strike rate of 145.5.
The second wildcard pick for the Invincibles was Derbyshire seamer Zak Chappell. The 26-year-old topped the wicket-takers list with 26 for the Falcons ahead of the likes of Pakistan international Zaman Khan (25) and 2022 star George Scrimshaw (20).
Embed from Getty ImagesLondon Spirit 2023 Hundred wildcard picks
The Spirit made a couple of very solid wildcard picks, which have become all the more important following the news that Australian duo Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh have been pulled out of the tournament.
Bell-Drummond, who is another to return to their franchise after not being initially retained, will be riding high following his storming t20 Blast campaign. In 13 innings, the opener compiled 600 runs which included five fifties and a century. His strike rate at the top of the innings was more than solid too, scoring his mountain of runs at 148.5.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Spirit's second wildcard pickup was Essex all-rounder Matt Critchley. The 26-year-old, who has previously represented Welsh Fire in the Hundred, did not have as much impact with the bat as many of his teammates, but still scored 250 runs in 15 innings.
With the ball, he was second only to Australian Daniel Sams for wickets taken, as he claimed 20 with his leg-spin. An economy rate of 8.76 would normally be towards the higher side, but in comparison with the other Essex bowlers it was again second only to Sams.
Welsh Fire 2023 Hundred wildcard picks
New Welsh Fire Head Coach Mike Hussey and his team have opted for experience with their two wildcard picks for the 2023 Hundred season. 37-year-old Chris Cooke had a strong campaign for Glamorgan, scoring 419 runs in 14 innings at an impressive strike rate of 171.0.
Cooke, who has played in Cardiff with Glamorgan for over a decade, is a welcome addition to the Welsh Fire squad. He scored his maiden t20 hundred during the recently-concluded Blast group stages and will bring form and experience into a side who are in need of such.
Their second pick was Lancashire's Luke Wells, who enjoyed a bright Blast season at Old Trafford among the stars within the lineup. Despite a relatively modest t20 record, Wells delivered strong performances at crucial times throughout the group stages, while also bowling tidily when called upon.
Embed from Getty ImagesNorthern Superchargers 2023 Hundred wildcard picks
The Superchargers went with a couple of solid performers from the 2023 t20 Blast season, with both picks helping to beef up the depth of the middle order. Ollie Robinson, the Durham 'keeper-batter, topped their runscorers list with 380, including four half-centuries, and will get his first taste of Hundred action.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe second pick was Northamptonshire's Saif Zaib, providing a left-handed option. Zaib was among the runs for Northants, scoring 330 in 14 innings with two fifties. Both players produced good performances throughout their respective campaigns and will add solid options for the Superchargers.
Birmingham Phoenix 2023 Hundred wildcard picks
It was a local affair for the Phoenix with their two wildcards, selecting two young players from the North Group-topping Birmingham Bears. Henry Brookes was drafted in to provide depth in the pace bowling department, having taken 12 wickets in as many matches in the 2023 t20 Blast and who played for Phoenix in the 2022 Hundred.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe second pick was for a highly-touted former England u19 star in Jacob Bethell. Following impressive performances for the u19 national side, the 20-year-old was picked up last season by the Welsh Fire.
He, like many others, failed to make an impact for the Cardiff-based side. He did not feature much for the Bears until the second half of the Blast campaign, where he struck 106 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 147.2.
Southern Brave 2023 Hundred wildcard picks
The Brave made a couple of interesting selections with their 2023 wildcard picks, selecting a Yorkshire duo who did not exactly set the Blast alight. Each player has shown potential, however. Matthew Fisher has represented the Northern Superchargers in the past and represents a strong seam bowling option.
He bowled just 65 deliveries during the Blast 2023 season, picking up two wickets. Like Klaassen for the Originals, Fisher has likely been chosen as a result of his previous experience, as well as potential. The second pick is certainly one for the future and largely represents a backup for star teenager Rehan Ahmed.
Jafan Chohar is a leg-spinner who is capable of scoring runs with the bat, in a similar vein to Ahmed. He took just five wickets in the 31 overs he sent down during the Blast, but did keep his economy below eight an over. He also had a strike rate of 148.6 with the bat, albeit having faced just 37 balls.
Which standout performers in the 2023 Vitality Blast did not get a wildcard selection
Along with the many wildcard picks that were handed out for excellent performances during the t20 Blast 2023, notably Bell-Drummond, Holden, Moores and Turner, there were a few that missed out. Ben Green of Somerset could not really have done much more to get his maiden Hundred contract.
The all-rounder, who currently sits at the top of the wickets taken list with 27, performed admirably with the ball and chipped in effectively with the bat. He enjoyed a solid 2022 Blast season and a stellar One-Day Cup campaign and, with him continuing such performances in the 2023 Blast, was still overlooked.
Embed from Getty ImagesHussey had mentioned bringing in Glamorgan players into his squad and did so originally with Dan Douthwaite, but Wales-born Kiran Carlson was not picked up despite an impressive tournament as Glamorgan captain.
Jack Haynes, who was a wildcard pick for the Invincibles last season, is also a fairly surprising omission. Ben Mike, the Yorkshire all-rounder, is another similarly talented player who may well have deserved a look-in.
Leg-spinners Matthew Parkinson and Jake Lintott, who have both made significant contributions in the opening two editions of the Hundred, were both somewhat surprisingly not picked up, given their experience and wicket-taking abilities. They did not make big impacts in the 2023 Blast, but nor did the likes of Fisher and Klaassen.
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