Jofra Archer to play for Ageas Bowl-based Southern Brave

The new 100-ball tournament was officially launched today, with the eight franchises officially named and the first batch of players allocated, including England's centrally-contracted Test contingent.

Danni Wyatt and Anya Shrubsole have been signed for Southern Brave women's team while Hampshire Women's captain Katie George, from Romsey will play for Welsh Fire. 

Hampshire Women's captain Katie George (fourth from right) and Jofra Archer (far right) will be playing for Welsh Fire and Southern Brave respectively during The Hundred

Ben Stokes will play for the Leeds-based Northern Super Chargers, who selected England's man of the moment ahead of Yorkshire pair Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow.

The Headingley side, which represents Yorkshire and Durham, had an embarrassment of riches to choose from and could not look past Stokes, the undisputed star of the summer.

Test captain Root was picked up by Nottingham-based Trent Rockets instead, with Bairstow joining Welsh Fire.

Elsewhere,  Jos Buttler heads up Manchester Originals, Chris Woakes represents Birmingham Phoenix and Sam Curran joins brother Tom at Oval Invincibles.

Each team was also able to pick up two 'icon' players from their local area, as well as the first two representatives of their women's side.

World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan is the leading man for the Lord's franchise, London Spirit, with England Women's captain Heather Knight also heading to the home of cricket.

Speaking about his new assignment Root said: "I'm incredibly excited to play for the Trent Rockets in The Hundred.

"The best players in the world are coming here to compete and we're going to get the chance to test ourselves against them once again. There has never been a more exciting time for cricket."

Bairstow welcomed the chance to represent Welsh Fire, even though returning to Yorkshire in the opposition ranks might take some getting used to.

"I enjoy Cardiff, I made my England debut there and it's an amazing place," he said.

"It's a new competition, a new format and new teams. It will feel weird going to Headingley and being in the away dressing room, but it's an amazing honour to be one of the guys to figurehead a team."

Root is excited to spearhead the Trent Rockets in the tournament.

The England Test captain added on Sky Sports: "I love playing at Trent Bridge, one of my favourite Test venues. Really looking forward to it, there are some great people involved.

"Visually you are starting to see what it will look like, it's coming together quite nicely. The draft will be very interesting to see where people are going to end up. It is very exciting.

"There are some big names in there (the draft). When you have got great players like that, you are guaranteed exciting cricket. It's going to make for a great tournament I'm sure."