KATYA WITNEY picks out young talent with both bat and ball who could well play decisive hands for their respective teams over the next eight weeks
Grace Scrivens (Kent)
At just 18 years of age and with an already impressive resume behind her, including winning the 2019 County Championship with Kent and top-scoring for her side in last year’s tournament, Scrivens is definitely one to keep an eye on.
She signed a professional contract for Sunrisers at the end of last season after being a regular for them in both the Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and also featured briefly for London Spirit in last year's Hundred.
She has been a regular in the England Academy since she was 15 and also bowls handy off-breaks.
Finty Trussler (Hampshire)
Another 18-year-old, Trussler will be aiming to build on her performance in the competition last year where she took 13 wickets at an average of 6.46.
Her outstanding performance came against Sussex where she took 4 for 12 with her leg-spin. She was awarded a contract with the Southern Vipers last summer.
Grace Scrivens of Kent
Chloe Skelton (Gloucestershire)
Gloucestershire's leading run-scorer in the County Championship in 2019 and fifth highest overall in the 2021 competition, scoring at an average of 67.00, Skelton could go even better in this year's tournament.
Promoted from the Western Storm academy last September after a century against Lightning, the 20-year-old opening batter is a very promising young talent.
Bethan Ellis (Derbyshire)
Part of Warwickshire's 2019 T20 Cup-winning squad, during which she took 10 wickets in the competition, Ellis joined Derbyshire in 2021 and went on to be the sid's leading run-scorer last year.
She was awarded a domestic contract by the ECB in 2020 and was also signed by the Welsh Fire. Unfortunately she had to pull out of the tournament due to injury.
Hopefully the allrounder will be fully fit and ready to go for the start of the competition.
Bethan Ellis of Derbyshire
Imogen Sidhu (Suffolk)
Sidhu scored 293 runs at an average of 73.25 for Suffolk in last year's tournament, over a hundred more than the next highest run-scorer in the group: Kezia Hassall.
Her four half-centuries in six matches saw her finish the competition as the overall leading run-scorer ahead of big names such as Emma Lamb and Georgia Hennessy.
Sidhu will undoubtedly play a big role for Suffolk in this year's competition.
Hannah Jones (Lancashire)
Economical left-arm spinner Jones was awarded a professional contract in 2020 after drying up opposition runs for the Thunder.
She took six wickets with an economy rate of 2.71 to help Lancashire win the North Group last year.
In her four matches for Manchester Originals in The Hundred last year, she gave a memorable performance against Southern Brave, taking 3 for 17.
Hannah Jones of Lancashire
Ella Phillips (Hertfordshire)
Phillips has already taken six wickets at an average of 6.67 in warm up games for Hertfordshire this season after finishing top of the wicket-takers in their group last season.
Her best figures of 5 for 2 last year came as her side demolished Norfolk before winning the East Group.
Amy Gordon (Surrey)
Bowling allrounder Amy Gordon made a name for herself by dismissing Alyssa Healy and Suzie Bates in the 2019 Kia Super League.
She is a useful lower-order batter, picking up her runs at a good strike rate.
This could be a season for her to make an even bigger mark for the South London side.
Surrey's Amy Gordon
Lucy Weston (Leicestershire)
Leicestershire's bowling allrounder put in a stellar performance for her county in last year's competition, topping the wicket-taking chat in the East Midlands group.
She is also capable of lower-order runs and should be a key player for the Foxes.
Milly Home (Worcestershire)
Milly Home will play another season on loan from Warwickshire to Worcestershire after averaging 56 in last year's tournament, an unbeaten 88 her top score.
If she can consistently deliver for Worcestershire this season the opening batter could be on her way to making more regular first-team appearances for Central Sparks.
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