Manchester Originals sign seven new players in The Hundred Draft as 2025 squads are confirmed

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Manchester Originals draft picks The Hundred 2025

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.

Credit: The Hundred (supplied)

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.

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.

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.”

You can see both squads in full down below:

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.

Moreover, with the club’s new Super Giants owners now slotting into place, there is an added appeal and pulling power to the Manchester Originals which will hopefully signal the start of a new era.

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.

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

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Featured Images — Manchester Originals (supplied)