With this year’s Hundred season just a few months away and the excitement starting to build once again, fans are familiarising themselves with the talent and following the 2025 Draft, Manchester Originals supporters now know who their picks are.
The local side based out of the Emirates Old Trafford, home of Lancashire County Cricket Club, has been steadily building a stronger squad year after year. With a total of seven new players added to the roster across the men’s and women’s teams, they’re looking more competitive than ever.
With The Hundred‘s official draft taking place this past Wednesday, 12 March, Manchester Originals managed to tie down four female players and five men, including some seriously sought-after names.
First off, former Aussie batsman and men’s head coach Simon Katich chose mystery spinner, Noor Ahmad as the first male pick, before securing New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, who was recently named ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the 2025 Champions Trophy with 263 runs.
As for the other 2025 draft picks, Lewis Gregory, Ben McKinney and George Garton complete this year’s Manchester Originals squad to round off a strong domestic core.
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Now, onto the women: new head coach Michael Klinger pulled off a real coup by bringing back hard-hitting all-rounder Deandra Dottin as the first pick – a real statement signing for the Originals.
Similarly, Seren Smale and Ella McCaughan will be making their debuts for Manchester club and, better still, fellow all-rounder Alice Monaghan is also returning after an impressive first season last year.
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Dottin said of her return: “I’m so excited to be back at Manchester Originals. I loved playing for them in 2023 and The Hundred is a great tournament to be involved in. Our squad is looking so strong with Beth Mooney and Sophie Ecclestone so I think we’ve got a great opportunity to make a statement this summer.”
New addition and former Hundred-winner with Trent Rockets (2022), Gregory, also had only positive things to say about his arrival: “I’ve had some good memories of playing against the Originals in the past so looking forward to joining them this season.
“With Jos Buttler, Phil Salt and Rachin Ravindra, we’ve got some of the best players in the world and I’m looking forward to playing alongside them. Old Trafford will be a new home ground for me but I’m sure it’ll be bouncing during the whole of August with the people of Manchester behind the team.”
This year’s Hundred fixtures dropped back in January and Manchester Originals get their campaign underway with a double-header at home on Wednesday, 6 August against Southern Brave, before heading to the capital to face men’s champions, Oval Invincibles, just three days later.
With London Spirit’s women’s team lifting their first trophy in 2024, each opponent looks to be getting stronger year after year, which only makes things more difficult for us fans in 0161 but all the better for the neutral and the overall spectacle.
As for tickets, there is still a priority window for fans who sign up in advance, with best-value tickets available between 1-15 April before general sale admission goes live on 17 April, where prices are still set at £5 for juniors aged 3-15 (free for under 3s) and adults starting from £14.
However, following a consortium bid led by a former player, it now looks as though the local community will be starting a new sporting era in 2026. You can read the RFL’s statement in full down below.
As you can see, the English governing body has agreed to grant the new Salford-based rugby league team Championship status in time for the start of next season.
The Red Devils were officially relegated back in October, following months of uncertainty surrounding their unpaid debts and having to rely on loan players to field squads.
It’s unclear whether the new Salford side will carry on under the well-established brand and logo, or whether they fresh start will include a new Greater Manchester moniker.
There is, of course, an obvious choice as retired winger Mason Caton-Brown has been confirmed as one of at least three key investors following his ‘Phoenix Bid’ to resurrect the club earlier this month.
Following the official announcement on Monday (22 Dec), fan group The 1873 have now expressed their gratitude and support regarding the new investment, adding: “The strength of this club has always been its people and that must remain true in this new chapter.”
We would like to congratulate The Phoenix Bid on being awarded RFL membership and becoming custodians of Salford Rugby League 👏
Fans must fully back the new board as we move into 2026. We have a responsibility to ensure that this is as successful as it can be. pic.twitter.com/BZEwzS0zC6
Caton-Brown had already insisted that the new leadership group had reached multiple pre-contract agreements with players and a new head coach.
While it’s obviously a big result to be gearing up just a few weeks after seemingly folding as a competitive side, the owners are now racing to get a full squad ready to face Oldham in their season opener on 16 January.
Meanwhile, ex-Salford Red Devils stars Paul Rowley and Adam Sidlow have now joined the coaching staff at St Helens.
Featured Images — Anthony Parkes (via Geograph)/Publicity picture (supplied)
Sport
Nathan Aspinall urges PDPA to improve mental health support within the sport
Danny Jones
Local sports personality Nathan Aspinall has urged the Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA) to provide better mental health support moving forward.
It’s not the first time ‘The Asp’ has called for more awareness and provision when it comes to player welfare and mental wellbeing, specifically, which remains a prevailing societal problem in general.
The Greater Manchester native has opened up about his own struggles many times in the past and has made a public plea for the PDPA to intervene and offer more help.
Speaking at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championships after his opening round victory, the 34-year-old instead chose to focus on more important issues than his strong start.
As you can see, Aspinall began by stating that “the PDPA now need to step in and help these guys because there’s a lot of guys suffering.”
Having long been an champion for male mental health, in particular – supporting the local Healthy Minds practices in his hometown of Stockport, for instance – he’s been one of the outspoken player on the subject for some time.
Noting that there are at least “two or three people” he refused to name, his message was simple: “There’s a lot of fantastic dart players in our sport, but it’ll be a shame to see so many of them go because of mental health”
The 2019 UK Open and 2023 World Matchplay winner has battled with multiple obstacles, including an ocular condition known as bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome, as well bursitis, which causes inflammation around key joints.
But it’s not necessarly injuries and the physical side of things that have been his biggest concern.
𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗨𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁
"I really do not care anymore.
"I do everything I can to be a good sportsman and you still get s**t. So you know what? I don't care. Say what you want." pic.twitter.com/mCBjQ6kvyj
One of the biggest and most recurring challenges for him has been ‘dartitis’, which many players within the discipline wrestle with the more their careers progress.
Aspinall has confessed to suffering almost chronic panic attacks due to the mental blocks (also commonly known as ‘the yips’) brought about by the intense pressure of playing on stage/live on TV.
With that in mind, it’s great to see him not only back on form and pulling impressive performance such as his ‘big fish’ finish on Friday night, but continuing to draw more attention to the underlying mental health crisis, especially among men. Well played, Nath.
You can watch his post-match interview in full down below.
Danny Jones -
14th March 2025 
