England openers Ben Duckett and Sophia Dunkley have agreed terms to join Trent Rockets for this year’s edition of The Hundred.
Duckett, 31, is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest all-format openers, and moves from Birmingham Phoenix, where he spent the previous three years of the competition.
Meanwhile, 27-year-old Dunkley, who has appeared over 125 times for her country in all formats, arrives from Welsh Fire, for whom she has also played for the past three seasons.
Both are England mainstays across all formats, and Duckett is already well-known to the Trent Bridge faithful, having scored over 5,500 runs for Nottinghamshire since joining in 2018.
The left-hander hit the winning runs as the Outlaws won the 2020 Vitality Blast, and has claimed two further trophies in his county’s colours.
“Trent Bridge is already my home in so many different ways, so signing for the Rockets feels like a full circle moment, and I’m absolutely delighted,” said Duckett.
“Without doubt, it’s my favourite ground to play at in England, and I can’t wait to play for the Rockets in front of the best fans in the country too.”
In contrast, Dunkley has only made five previous Trent Bridge appearances but she has built a similarly impressive CV, and is one of only four women to pass 1,000 runs in The Hundred.
“I’m really excited to sign for a new team in The Hundred and to experience calling a new venue home, especially one that’s as brilliant as Trent Bridge,” said Dunkley.
“The platform that The Hundred has given the women’s game so far has been immense, and it’s an incredibly exciting time, so I can’t wait to see what lies in store with the Rockets.”
The duo have signed for the Rockets prior to March’s inaugural player auction, which in 2026 is replacing the draft system, with set salary tiers, that was previously used.
Teams instead now have a total pot to spend on their entire squad, but are permitted to make up to four overseas or England-contracted player signings or retentions before the auction.
A set amount of money is removed from that pot for every direct signing made.
Men’s Head Coach, Peter Moores, said: “It feels a great fit to have Ben at the Rockets and I know he’s excited about the opportunity to play back at Trent Bridge.
“He’s got a great record here, and knowing the ground and conditions well is always an advantage.”
“I’m really looking forward to the chance to work together again, as well as giving our fans another opportunity to watch him play.”
Women’s Head Coach, Chris Read, added: “Sophia will be a brilliant addition to our squad, and brings proven run-scoring ability coupled with valuable experience.
“Her willingness to take the game on at the top of the order across formats makes her a great fit for us, and we’re really looking forward to welcoming her to Trent Rockets.”
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