Liam Livingstone, the hard-hitting all-rounder, has been appointed as the new captain of the Birmingham Phoenix Men ahead of the 2025 edition of The Hundred. Livingstone, who succeeds former England all-rounder Moeen Ali, is looking to reinvigorate his white-ball career after a less than stellar Champions Trophy performance last year. With this new role, the Birmingham franchise hopes to leverage Livingstone's leadership skills, having already established himself as the highest run-getter for the Phoenix across four seasons.
Allegations about Ali stepping back are tied to his retirement from domestic cricket, marking a new chapter for both the player and the franchise. Livingstone, who also captained the ODI team during Jos Buttler’s absence in the West Indies, will aim to bring fresh energy and strategic direction to the Phoenix group.
"Liam Livingstone is the highest run-getter for the Phoenix across four seasons," noted a team announcement. The 2025 season presents a chance for him not only to demonstrate his batting skills but to build on his leadership experience as part of the senior English setup. This experience is further enhanced as he heads into the IPL 2025 season with Royal Challengers Bangalore, working alongside cricketing giants like Virat Kohli, Krunal Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Moving beyond the Phoenix, Birmingham is securing its core talent ahead of The Hundred. The franchise has retained key players, including New Zealand pacers Tim Southee and Adam Milne, while also signing Trent Boult as a direct overseas player. Further reinforcements are in place as Joe Clarke joins the squad as an opener-wicketkeeper and Tom Helm returns during the draft.
However, the excitement does not end there with other teams in The Hundred making significant moves. Adam Hose has switched allegiances to the Trent Rockets for his fourth successive campaign in the competition. At 32 years old, Hose moves from a successful three-season stint with the Northern Superchargers—where he amassed an impressive 408 runs—to the Rockets, who are looking to enhance their squad after finishing fifth in last year’s competition.
Hose is no stranger to finding himself in challenging new environments; he reunites with former Warwickshire teammate Sam Hain in what could signal a revitalization for the Rockets. The Northern Superchargers, despite their lower standing last season, saw Harry Brook as their leading run-scorer with 675 runs, making Hose’s contribution particularly notable.
The Trent Rockets, last season, finished with only eight points from eight games. Having an even record of four wins and four losses, they are aiming for better results, especially with Hose joining their ranks to bolster batting options.
As for the ongoing changes in teams, the London Spirit have also appointed veteran Kiwi Kane Williamson as their new captain, following the release of Dan Lawrence. Lawrence has now signed with the Northern Superchargers, adding to the competitive landscape of The Hundred. The future of the Trent Rockets’ management remains somewhat unclear as they have yet to name their captain following the release of Lewis Gregory, who joined the Manchester Originals in the recent draft.
Teams are permitted to select more players as wildcard picks as the season approaches its end of May 2025 deadline, ensuring there will be further changes and excitement in the preparations for The Hundred.
With these leadership changes and strategic player signings, The Hundred is poised for a thrilling 2025 season. The combination of emerging talents like Livingstone and seasoned players like Williamson and Hose could redefine the competition’s dynamics as the franchises vie for supremacy in this innovative format.
