Sport

The inaugural auction for The Hundred is set to take place, marking a significant shift for the tournament after moving away from a draft system following recent investment. A total of 964 players have registered for the auction, hoping to secure a spot in the eight teams for the 2026 season. Among those vying for a contract are a substantial contingent of Pakistani cricketers, with 67 players entering their names into the draft, while notable England players like Joe Root and Adil Rashid are also available.

The men’s list features a wealth of international talent alongside established England stars. Root, Rashid, and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, along with last year’s leading run-scorer Jordan Cox, were all not retained by their franchises and will be available for bidding. Though, Ben Stokes will not participate in The Hundred for the second consecutive year, having previously opted to manage his workload, a decision he first made in 2024.

Several other prominent England players are absent from the list. Mark Wood is currently recovering from a knee injury sustained during the Ashes series, and veteran bowler James Anderson has not registered for the competition. The overseas contingent includes South African internationals Quinton de Kock, David Miller, and Aiden Markram, alongside West Indies players Jason Holder, Sherfane Rutherford, and Shimron Hetmyer.

Pakistan Contingent at the Highest Reserve Price

A significant number of Pakistani players have registered at the highest men’s reserve price of £100,000, including Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Naseem Shah. Usman Tariq, a Pakistan mystery spinner, is also among those listed. The competition is expected to be fierce for these players, reflecting the growing interest in Pakistani talent within The Hundred.

Squads will consist of between 16 and 18 players, with teams operating under a salary cap and a minimum spending requirement, known as a salary collar. For the 2026 season, the salary pot for men’s teams has increased by 45% to £2.05 million per side, while the fund for women’s teams has seen a substantial 100% increase to £880,000. This investment underscores the commitment to growing both the men’s and women’s games.

Strong Women’s List Also Emerges

The women’s draft also boasts a strong lineup of international and domestic talent. England internationals Em Arlott, Amy Jones, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, and Linsey Smith have all entered the draft at the £50,000 reserve price. Davina Perrin, who scored a century at the age of 18 in last year’s eliminator, has set her reserve price at £37,500. South Africa all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, New Zealand’s Sophie Devine, Australia’s Beth Mooney, and India’s Richa Ghosh are also among the top-bracket players.

Notably, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is absent from the women’s list. No Indian men’s players have registered for the auction, as current regulations prevent Indian internationals from participating in franchise leagues outside of the Indian Premier League. However, England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson has indicated that We see “only a matter of time” before Indian players feature in The Hundred according to ESPNcricinfo.

The auction represents a new era for The Hundred, with the increased investment and broader player pool promising a competitive and exciting tournament. The focus now shifts to the teams as they strategize and prepare to build their squads for the 2026 season.

As teams finalize their rosters, the composition of each squad will offer insight into their strategies for the upcoming season. The Hundred continues to evolve as a key fixture in the cricket calendar, and the auction results will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.

What are your predictions for the biggest signings in The Hundred auction? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

GREENSBORO, NC – Lise Coetzee delivered a standout performance, winning the 200-meter freestyle to highlight the second day of competition for the Tulane Green Wave at the American Conference Swimming and Diving Championships. The championships are being held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, and Tulane improved its standing to fifth place overall with 459 points as of Thursday, February 19th. The team showcased depth with seven top-10 finishes in individual and relay events, and a total of 13 swimmers contributed to the scoring.

Coetzee’s winning time in the 200 free was a personal best of 1:46.77, earning her 32 team points. This victory adds to a successful championship run for Coetzee, who has already secured a medal in the first day of competition. The Green Wave continued to demonstrate strong performances across multiple events, building momentum as the championships progress.

Beyond Coetzee’s gold medal, Tulane swimmers achieved several notable results. Rafaela Sumida finished ninth in the 200 free with a time of 1:49.09, contributing 20 points to the team total. Phoebe Johnson similarly achieved a lifetime best, placing tenth with a time of 1:50.08 and earning 16 points. Sydney Mullin added a point for the team with a season-best time of 1:52.68 in the same event.

The Green Wave’s success wasn’t limited to the freestyle events. Andrea Zeebe secured a fifth-place finish in the 400-meter individual medley (IM) with a lifetime best time of 4:16.99, adding 25 points. Gwen Shahboz, Danielle Barberie, and Mary Kate Kupsky also contributed points in the 400 IM, finishing 12th, 14th, and 19th respectively. Eliza Lennox added to Tulane’s point total with a 10th-place finish in the 100-meter butterfly, clocking in at 54.22 seconds.

In diving events, Libby Brewer finished seventh in the 1-meter dive with a score of 249.75, earning 23 team points. The relay teams also contributed to Tulane’s success. The 200-meter free relay team, comprised of Lennox, Nicole Fant, Sumida, and Marin Shimkus, finished seventh with a time of 1:32.36, adding 46 points. The 400-meter free relay team of Zeebe, Ebba Holgersson, Lennox, and Coetzee also secured a seventh-place finish, posting a time of 3:41.51 for another 46 points.

Looking Ahead to Day Three

The Tulane swimming and diving team will continue competing on the third day of the American Conference Championships on Friday, February 20th. The day will start with preliminaries at 9:30 a.m., followed by swim finals at 5:00 p.m. The 3-meter diving preliminaries are scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m., with finals at 4:00 p.m. The events on the schedule for Friday include the 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter breaststroke, 200-meter butterfly, 3-meter diving, and the 800-meter free relay.

Fans interested in supporting the Green Wave can purchase tickets for men’s and women’s basketball seasons, as well as the baseball campaign, by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), visiting TulaneTix.com, or stopping by the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.

Stay updated with Tulane Swimming and Diving by following them on social media: @GreenWaveSwim on Twitter, @GreenWaveSwim on Instagram, and Tulane Swimming and Diving on Facebook. You can also follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Supporting the Green Wave Club provides crucial resources for Tulane student-athletes, enhancing their ability to excel both in competition and in the classroom. Donations can be made by calling (504) 865-5356, emailing [email protected], or visiting greenwaveclub.com.

As the American Conference Championships continue, the Tulane Green Wave will look to build on their strong performances and climb the leaderboard. The team’s dedication and talent are evident, and fans can anticipate exciting competition throughout the remainder of the meet.

What are your thoughts on Tulane’s performance so far? Share your comments below and join the conversation!

MILAN CORTINA, Italy – As the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina enter their penultimate day of competition, all eyes turn to the biathlon mass start, where Quentin Fillon Maillet has the opportunity to further cement his place in French sporting history. The Frenchman is already the most decorated French Olympian in Winter Games history, and a strong showing in Friday’s event could add another chapter to his remarkable career. The mass start is scheduled for 2:15 PM local time at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.

Fillon Maillet’s recent success at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games has been nothing short of spectacular. He secured a historic gold medal in the men’s relay on Tuesday, February 17th, becoming the first French athlete to win eight Olympic medals in Winter Games competition. This surpassed the previous record held by Martin Fourcade, who had seven medals to his name. The Olympic website details his achievement, highlighting the significance of this milestone for French winter sports.

The 31-year-old biathlete previously impressed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, claiming five medals, including two golds. His consistency this season has been remarkable, earning three medals in five races at the Antholz – Anterselva Biathlon Arena. “It’s incredible, eight Olympic medals, it’s well beyond the dreams I had when I was little,” Fillon Maillet said after the relay victory, as reported by Olympics.com. He now shares the record for most Olympic medals won by a French athlete, summer or winter, with fencers Philippe Cattiau and Roger Ducret, each with eight medals. Lequipe.fr reports that this ties him with Cattiau and Ducret for the overall French record.

A Busy Day of Competition

Beyond the biathlon, Friday promises a full slate of events for France. Marielle Berger Sabbatel will compete in the skicross finals at Livigno, Lombardy. Vincent Maharavo, a first-time Olympian, will aim for a podium finish in the ski acrobatic half-pipe qualification rounds, also held in Livigno. Meanwhile, Aurélie Lévêque and Cloé Ollivier will participate in the finals of the 1,500m short track speed skating event in Milan. The skicross events are set to begin at 10:00 AM local time, followed by the ski acrobatic half-pipe half an hour later. The speed skating finals will commence at 8:15 PM.

The action will be broadcast live on France Télévisions and Eurosport, allowing fans across the country to follow their athletes’ progress. Louis Chahuneau, Vincent Marcelin, and Célien Milioni-Brunet will be providing commentary from the “Chalet d’Austerlitz” throughout the day.

What’s at Stake for Fillon Maillet?

While Fillon Maillet has already achieved a historic feat, the mass start presents another opportunity to add to his medal tally. The mass start is a notoriously unpredictable event, with a large field of competitors and the potential for dramatic shifts in position. His teammates, Eric Perrot, Emilien Jacquelin, and Fabien Claude, will also be competing, adding to the French presence in the field. Sports.fr highlights the anticipation surrounding Fillon Maillet’s performance.

The French team has already secured 16 medals at the Milan-Cortina Games, surpassing their previous best of 15 medals achieved at Sochi in 2014 and Pyeongchang in 2018. With five gold medals already claimed, France is poised to finish among the top nations in the medal standings.

Following the conclusion of the mass start, the focus will shift to the remaining events and the overall medal count. The final days of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics promise to deliver more thrilling moments and unforgettable performances.

What are your predictions for Quentin Fillon Maillet in the mass start? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this article with fellow sports fans!