Devine and Mooney Lead Hundred Auction at 210,000 Pounds

In a landmark moment for women's cricket, New Zealand allrounder Sophie Devine and Australian wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney each secured the highest bids of 210,000 pounds at the inaugural auction for England's Hundred competition, held in London on Wednesday. Devine joined Welsh Fire, while Mooney went to Trent Rockets following a fierce bidding contest with Manchester Super Giants. The auction, the first of its kind in a major British sport, marked a significant escalation in player salaries, reflecting the tournament's growing investment and appeal.

The event highlighted the rapid evolution of the women's game, with the salary cap for each of the eight franchises doubling to 880,000 pounds per team. This surge stems from new private investments that have introduced external owners or co-owners across all teams, injecting fresh capital into English cricket. Previously, the top salary stood at 65,000 pounds under the draft system used in prior seasons, a figure now surpassed by more than three times for the leading players. The auction followed pre-signings of up to four players per team, allowing franchises to build squads with a mix of established stars and emerging...