England and Wales Cricket Board’s exciting and innovative new 100-ball format The Hundred is all set to return with its fifth edition starting from Tuesday, 5th of August, 2024. The Hundred 2025 promises to be a thrilling affair as the ECB has sold its stake in the teams to a private owner. While the eyeballs will be on the men’s Hundred, but the women’s Hundred has also grown rapidly in reputation and is garnering a lot of attention. In four...
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Since the launch of The Hundred in 2021, the Birmingham Phoenix Women’s team has remained one of the competition’s most intriguing sides—consistently competitive, rich in international star power, yet still chasing their first title. Representing the historic Warwickshire County Cricket Club and playing their home games at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, the Phoenix have always had strong foundations. However, despite flashes of brilliance, consistency and silverware have eluded them.
Birmingham Phoenix were one of the eight founding franchises of The Hundred, part of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s bold new venture to modernise the sport through a fast-paced 100-ball format. The team was initially captained by England wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones, and boasted a talented squad featuring the likes of New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner. With a mixture of flair, experience and homegrown talent, the Phoenix entered the competition with high expectations.
Their debut season in 2021 saw them start strongly. Under Amy Jones’ leadership, Phoenix finished third in the group stage and reached the Eliminator. Though they fell short of making the final, the team had made a promising start and established themselves as contenders.
In 2022, leadership passed to Sophie Devine, one of the most experienced all-rounders in world cricket. The Phoenix continued to show their potential but failed to build on their earlier promise, finishing fourth and missing out on the knockout rounds. The signs of a wobble had begun to appear, with a lack of continuity starting to hurt their rhythm.
The cracks widened in 2023, as Phoenix endured a nightmare campaign. With Eve Jones stepping in as captain, the side lost all seven of their matches and slumped to last place. What had started as a promising journey quickly turned into a cautionary tale. There was criticism over selection, leadership instability and failure to settle on a winning combination.
Looking to course-correct, Birmingham Phoenix made another bold leadership call in 2024 by handing the captaincy to Australian superstar Ellyse Perry. The appointment brought stability, and while Perry’s presence added gravitas, the team still struggled to find results. A seventh-place finish meant another disappointing season, despite a few bright individual performances.
Heading into 2025, Birmingham Phoenix have decided to place their faith in continuity. Ellyse Perry remains captain, with Ali Maiden taking charge as head coach. With an experienced leadership group in place and a squad packed with international quality, the Phoenix will be desperate to finally get their campaign right and make a genuine push for the title. The hunger is there, the talent is there—it’s just about putting it all together.
Since the inception of The Hundred in 2021, the Birmingham Phoenix Women’s side has been home to several standout international stars, but the captaincy baton has changed hands more frequently than any other team in the competition. Unlike some franchises that have enjoyed leadership stability, Phoenix have often rotated captains in a bid to find the right balance and results—something that has eluded them so far.
The leadership journey of Birmingham Phoenix Women has been shaped by strong individual profiles, but a lack of consistency in the leadership group has often hampered their momentum. Across the first four editions of the competition, the franchise has had four different captains in four seasons: Amy Jones (2021), Sophie Devine (2022), Eve Jones (2023), and Ellyse Perry (2024). As the 2025 season kicks off, Perry continues at the helm, offering much-needed continuity after seasons of upheaval.
Let’s take a closer look at how the captaincy and vice-captaincy roles have evolved over the years for Birmingham Phoenix Women.
Amy Jones was the inaugural captain of the Birmingham Phoenix Women’s team and brought with her a wealth of experience as England’s first-choice wicketkeeper. Leading from the front in the inaugural season, Jones guided the Phoenix to a third-place finish and a playoff berth. Though the team lost in the Eliminator, her leadership was credited with setting a solid foundation for the franchise.
New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine took over the reins in 2022. A seasoned leader in international cricket, Devine brought a calm and authoritative presence to the side. The Phoenix were competitive throughout the campaign but narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing fourth. Devine’s leadership was notable for her tactical nous, though the short tenure meant limited time to build long-term chemistry.
2023 was a low point in Birmingham Phoenix Women’s journey. Eve Jones, a domestic star, was promoted to captain, but the team had a disastrous season, losing all seven of their matches. It was a season marred by inconsistency, lack of execution, and low morale. Despite Jones’ best efforts, the side never found momentum, and she was replaced at the end of the campaign.
Looking to bounce back from a winless season, Birmingham Phoenix turned to Australian legend Ellyse Perry in 2024. Her experience, composure, and leadership pedigree made her the obvious choice for a fresh start. Under Perry, the team showed some signs of revival, winning three out of eight games and finishing seventh. While they didn’t make the playoffs, the atmosphere was more stable, and the franchise decided to back her for the 2025 season as well.
Since the beginning of The Hundred in 2021, Birmingham Phoenix Women have shown flashes of brilliance, strong individual performances, and periods of competitiveness, even though the ultimate prize a Hundred title still eludes them. Representing the Warwickshire region and based out of the iconic Edgbaston Stadium, the Phoenix women’s side has consistently attracted global stars and domestic talents. But inconsistency in results and frequent leadership changes have meant they’ve never quite made the leap to champions.
Their best season came right at the start in 2021, when they finished third in the group stage and reached the Eliminator. That early success promised a bright future, but subsequent seasons saw the Phoenix struggle to replicate that form. Despite fielding stars like Amy Jones, Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, and Georgia Elwiss, they’ve failed to reach another playoff, often falling short due to narrow defeats and middle-order collapses.
Yet, across four completed seasons, Birmingham Phoenix Women have still created a number of notable records—both as a team and through standout individual performances. Here’s a look at their key achievements and records heading into the 2025 season:
The Birmingham Phoenix Women’s team has had a mixed journey in The Hundred so far, with their best moments coming in the inaugural 2021 season. Their highest team total of 161/5 came in a strong performance against Welsh Fire in 2022, showcasing their batting depth. However, inconsistency has also led to lows, like their collapse to 104 all out against Trent Rockets in 2023. The team enjoyed its best season in 2021, recording 4 wins, a 3rd-place league finish, and their only playoff appearance. Despite flashes of promise, the team is still chasing its maiden championship title.
Since the launch of The Hundred in 2021, Birmingham Phoenix Women have carved out their own identity—one defined by star power, bold cricket, and a loyal home base at Edgbaston. Over the years, their on-field battles have sparked a handful of key rivalries, some born from geographic proximity, others from intense encounters and personal performances. While the Phoenix are still hunting for their first title, their matches have rarely lacked drama. From nail-biting finishes to commanding wins and painful defeats, these rivalries have played a central role in shaping Birmingham Phoenix Women’s Hundred journey so far.
Here’s a look at the standout rivalries that have defined the franchise in the women’s competition:
This rivalry has quickly grown into one of the fiercest in the women’s competition. Southern Brave, a consistent powerhouse and title contender, have often had the upper hand in these matchups, much to the frustration of Birmingham fans. The Brave’s well-drilled bowling attack and clinical batting line-up have often stifled Phoenix’s momentum, making these contests a high-stakes test of composure and tactics.
The Birmingham Phoenix and Southern Brave have fared against each other three times and the Southern Brave have emerged victorious on two of these occasions while the Phoenix have only won once.
The Midlands derby has always been one of the most anticipated fixtures on the calendar, with Birmingham Phoenix Women locking horns with neighbours Trent Rockets in a regional rivalry that never fails to deliver. The proximity, historic county pride, and passionate fanbases of both teams give this fixture a unique intensity. The matches have often been decided by fine margins, making this a true needle match.
With the record split evenly, both teams will view the 2025 edition as a chance to take the lead in the derby and claim bragging rights across the Midlands.
This has quietly developed into one of the more competitive rivalries in the women’s game. Both teams have strong batting units and have shared some tight contests over the years. The Originals’ aggressive approach has often clashed with Phoenix’s more measured style, producing matchups that are thrillingly unpredictable.
In four matches till now Manchester Originals have won two while Birmingham Phoenix have won only one with one fixture ending up as No Result. Tthis is one of the most evenly matched rivalries the Originals have. It has also become one of the most entertaining, with explosive batting and tight finishes marking each contest. Expect this one to grow in stature as both teams chase playoff berths.
This rivalry has grown on the back of some explosive individual performances. With both teams boasting high-profile players and plenty of batting firepower, their encounters have typically been high-scoring affairs. The clash of styles—the Superchargers’ aggressive top order versus Phoenix’s experienced middle-order anchors—makes this a particularly intriguing contest.
Tied at two wins apiece, this is a rivalry that is still in its early stages but already promises to become a marquee fixture in future editions.
Over the years, Birmingham Phoenix Women have evolved into one of the most recognisable franchises in The Hundred, thanks to their on-field flair, passionate fan base at Edgbaston, and a strong foundation laid by the Warwickshire County Cricket Club. As the competition heads into a new era in 2025, the ownership and commercial structure of Birmingham Phoenix Women has seen a significant transformation, bringing with it a blend of tradition and cutting-edge global investment. Here’s a deep dive into the team’s ownership journey and the key sponsorships powering their present and future.
From 2021 to 2024, Birmingham Phoenix Women, like all eight franchises in The Hundred—were wholly owned and operated by their host county in collaboration with the ECB. In Birmingham’s case, this responsibility fell to Warwickshire County Cricket Club, one of England’s most historic and well-supported county sides. Under their stewardship, the Phoenix brand was built with a strong local identity and a deep connection to the Midlands cricketing community.
Warwickshire CCC played a central role in assembling competitive squads and fostering local talent, all while managing operations across both men’s and women’s teams. The club’s influence helped the women’s team grow steadily, both in performance and popularity, over the initial four seasons.
However, 2025 marked a watershed moment for The Hundred. The ECB introduced private investment into the tournament as part of a broader commercial overhaul aimed at attracting global capital, enhancing fan engagement, and positioning the league for long-term financial sustainability. As part of this new direction, Warwickshire CCC sold a 49% stake in Birmingham Phoenix to U.S.-based investment firm Knighthead Capital Management LLC, in a landmark deal that valued the franchise at £82 million. This makes the Phoenix one of the highest-valued teams in the league.
Knighthead’s investment, reportedly worth £41 million for their 49% stake, not only signals growing international interest in English cricket, but also connects the Phoenix to some of the biggest names in global sport. NFL legend Tom Brady, a business partner in Knighthead, already has ties to Birmingham through his ownership in Birmingham City Football Club. Brady’s involvement could help raise the Phoenix’s profile exponentially, both in terms of international fan appeal and cross-sport collaborations.
With Tom Wagner, Knighthead’s co-founder, also leading redevelopment efforts in the city, including a proposed £2 billion investment into a new sports quarter, the firm’s commitment to Birmingham’s sporting landscape appears long-term and serious. This dual ownership model, combining Warwickshire’s cricketing tradition with Knighthead’s financial muscle, creates an exciting blueprint for the franchise’s future.
In 2025, Birmingham Phoenix welcomed Butterkist as their official title sponsor, a move that perfectly encapsulates the team’s fun, energetic, and family-friendly vibe. Known as the UK’s number one popcorn brand, Butterkist’s association with the Phoenix is a match made for the modern cricket audience – vibrant, youthful, and all about entertainment.
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