The excitement is at an all time high as the cricketing world awaits the fifth edition of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s exciting and innovative 100-ball T20 tournament titled ‘The Hundred’. The Hundred in 2025 is all set to commence from Tuesday 5th August with the London Derby. The two time defending champions Oval Invincibles will take on their city rivals the London Spirit. The clash between Oval Invincibles and London Spirit will be a clash between two of...
Table Of Contents
The London Spirit men’s team, based at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, has been one of the more enigmatic sides in The Hundred since its inaugural edition in 2021. Representing the historic cricketing counties of Middlesex, Essex, and Northamptonshire, the franchise has often found itself struggling for consistency in a competition designed to be unpredictable and fast-paced. While the team boasts a rich heritage and a loyal fan base, on-field success has largely eluded them—making them one of the least successful outfits in the men’s tournament so far.
The London Spirit were formed as part of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s effort to revolutionize the sport with the 100-ball format, bringing in new audiences and revitalizing interest in the shorter formats. In the early years, they turned to leadership and experience, naming World Cup-winning England captain Eoin Morgan as skipper and bringing in former Australia coach Shane Warne as head coach. However, despite the star power, results didn’t quite go their way.
The inaugural 2021 season was a disappointing one, as London Spirit finished at the bottom of the table. The team showed flashes of promise, but inconsistency plagued their campaign. In 2022, the tide briefly turned. Under Morgan’s leadership, the Spirit played a much-improved brand of cricket and made it to the playoffs for the first and only time so far. They finished third in the league standings but lost in the Eliminator, failing to reach the final.
Following Morgan’s retirement from professional cricket, Dan Lawrence took over as captain in 2023. However, the change in leadership didn’t yield better results. The team finished seventh in the standings that year and was once again unable to challenge for a playoff spot. Things went from bad to worse in 2024 as the Spirit slumped to the bottom of the table once more, finishing eighth in a forgettable campaign.
In response to this ongoing lack of success, the franchise has decided to revamp its leadership and direction heading into the 2025 season. New Zealand’s legendary batter Kane Williamson has been appointed as captain, bringing with him a calm presence and a wealth of international experience. Former Australia head coach Justin Langer has been brought in as head coach to usher in a new era. The duo is expected to reinvigorate the squad with fresh energy, tactical clarity, and a winning mindset.
Despite their struggles, the London Spirit remain a marquee team with immense potential. With a new leadership setup and renewed ambition, they’ll be hoping to turn their fortunes around in 2025 and finally live up to the lofty expectations that come with playing at the Home of Cricket.
Since the inception of The Hundred in 2021, the London Spirit men’s side has been one of the most high-profile franchises in the competition—primarily due to association with the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. However, despite their stature and expectations, the franchise has struggled to find consistent leadership and results, often finishing in the lower half of the table. Over the first four seasons, they’ve experimented with multiple captaincy options in a bid to find the right formula.
From the World Cup-winning Eoin Morgan to the young Dan Lawrence and now the seasoned Kane Williamson, the leadership journey of London Spirit has been a story of transitions, hope, and rebuilding.
Eoin Morgan, one of England’s most successful white-ball captains, was the natural choice to lead London Spirit in the tournament’s opening two seasons. His appointment brought a sense of gravitas and expectation to the franchise. While Morgan’s tactical acumen was never in doubt, results didn’t quite follow suit.
In the 2021 season, Spirit endured a disastrous campaign, finishing at the bottom of the table. However, Morgan led a strong turnaround in 2022, guiding the team to a third-place finish and their only playoff appearance so far. Unfortunately, they lost in the Eliminator, and Morgan stepped away from professional cricket shortly after.
Following Morgan’s retirement, Dan Lawrence was appointed as the captain ahead of the 2023 season. A talented batter with a bright future, Lawrence was seen as a bold choice, a move aimed at grooming a long-term leader. However, the on-field results didn’t quite go to plan.
Under Lawrence, the team struggled for momentum, finishing 7th in 2023 and slumping to last place again in 2024. His leadership period coincided with a phase of instability, both in team selection and form. Despite his commitment and energy, the team couldn’t string together consistent performances.
Still, Lawrence earned respect for taking on a tough role during a rebuilding phase and giving opportunities to emerging talent.
In a bid to reset their trajectory, the London Spirit made a major statement ahead of the 2025 season by appointing Kane Williamson as captain. The former New Zealand skipper brings calm authority, vast experience, and a reputation for being one of the most respected leaders in the global game.
Williamson’s appointment signals a new era for the Spirit one of tactical clarity and composed leadership. While the season is yet to begin, there is renewed optimism among fans and stakeholders alike that he can be the one to finally unlock the team’s true potential.
The London Spirit, one of the eight founding franchises in The Hundred Men’s competition, have had a journey of mixed fortunes since the tournament began in 2021. Based out of the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground and representing the counties of Middlesex, Essex, and Northamptonshire, the Spirit have struggled to live up to the promise of their prestigious home. While they have had moments of competitiveness, consistent success has largely remained out of reach.
Across the four completed seasons, London Spirit’s solitary high point came in 2022 when they reached the playoffs under the leadership of Eoin Morgan. It remains their only postseason appearance to date. Other campaigns have ranged from underwhelming to disappointing, with bottom-of-the-table finishes in both 2021 and 2024.
Despite the lack of team accolades, Spirit have featured some exciting individual performers over the years. The squad has been filled with talented players who’ve produced flashes of brilliance, even if the collective effort has not always translated into wins. As the team gears up for the 2025 season under the new leadership of Kane Williamson and head coach Justin Langer, they’ll be hoping to rewrite their story and finally establish themselves as title contenders.
Here’s a look at London Spirit’s team and individual records so far:
London Spirit’s overall record in The Hundred highlights a franchise still searching for consistent success. Their highest team total of 195/4 against Trent Rockets in 2023 showcased their batting potential, while their lowest total of 92/9 against Northern Superchargers in 2021 exposed early vulnerabilities. The team’s best season came in 2022 when they won five matches, strung together three consecutive victories, and finished third in the league, qualifying for their only playoff appearance to date. However, they’ve yet to make a final or lift the championship trophy. With just one playoff berth in four seasons and two last-place finishes, Spirit's journey has been more about promise than fulfillment.
While team success has been limited, several London Spirit players have made notable individual contributions. Adam Rossington has been a standout performer, leading the charts for most runs (471), most fours (43), most sixes (26), and most fifties (3). Dan Lawrence holds the record for the highest individual score with a brilliant 93 in 2023, while Brad Wheal’s 4/17 remains the franchise’s best bowling effort. On the bowling front, Liam Dawson has quietly impressed with 24 wickets, the most by any Spirit bowler. Nathan Ellis tops the fielding stats with 9 catches, but despite these individual highlights, the team still awaits its first-ever centurion in The Hundred.
The London Spirit may not have had a glittering record in The Hundred, but their matches have always been steeped in narrative, rivalry, and emotion. From heated derbies to closely fought classics, the Spirit have found themselves at the heart of several exciting rivalries since the tournament’s launch in 2021. Whether it’s the fight for London supremacy or battles against evenly matched opposition, these contests have added spark to the Spirit’s journey in The Hundred.
Here’s a look at the key rivalries that have defined London Spirit’s four-season history in the competition.
The London Derby. A rivalry that transcends the table and taps directly into geography, pride, and tradition. Every season, the Oval Invincibles and the London Spirit lock horns in a contest that ignites fans across the capital. With both teams representing different halves of London, it’s not just a cricket match, it’s a city-wide showdown.
This rivalry has grown quietly but steadily over the years, fuelled by thrilling finishes and individual brilliance. Trent Rockets have often served as a benchmark for London Spirit, especially in seasons where the Spirit have tried to punch above their weight.
This has quietly developed into a fiercely contested rivalry. Both teams have had fluctuating fortunes across the seasons but always seem to bring the best out of each other when they meet. Close matches, collapses, and comebacks have all been part of this head-to-head.
While not traditionally thought of as a marquee rivalry, matches between London Spirit and Manchester Originals have often held plenty of subtext, be it former England teammates facing off or both teams vying for playoff relevance in underdog roles.
The London Spirit have long been associated with tradition, prestige, and the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground. While they haven’t tasted success on the pitch in The Hundred Men’s competition so far, off the field the franchise has undergone a major transformation heading into the 2025 season. A new ownership structure, combined with premium sponsorship backing, has elevated the Spirit’s commercial profile and set the stage for a bold new chapter in the franchise’s journey. As English cricket embraces private investment, the Spirit are now one of the most valuable and high-potential properties in the tournament.
For the first four seasons of The Hundred (2021–2024), London Spirit were fully owned and operated by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the historic custodians of Lord’s and one of the most iconic institutions in world cricket. With their deep roots in the game and unmatched heritage, MCC gave the franchise a strong cricketing foundation. During this period, London Spirit’s operations, squad building, and local engagement were driven primarily by MCC in partnership with the ECB.
However, in a landmark move ahead of the 2025 season, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) opened the doors for private investment in The Hundred. In response, the MCC retained their 51% ownership but chose to sell the remaining 49% stake in the London Spirit franchise. This partial sale fetched a staggering £145 million, valuing the franchise at nearly £300 million. This is the highest valuation among all Hundred teams so far.
The 49% stake was acquired by a newly formed consortium known as Cricket Investor Holdings Ltd., led by tech industry heavyweight Nikesh Arora, CEO of cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks. The group comprises 11 high-net-worth individuals including a who’s who of global business: Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft), Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google), Shantanu Narayen (CEO of Adobe), Egon Durban (CEO of Silver Lake Management), and Satyan Gajwani (Vice Chairman of Times Internet and Co-founder of Major League Cricket).
This deal marks a bold new direction for the London Spirit. The presence of global business leaders with deep connections to technology, digital media, and sports investment brings immense financial muscle and international exposure to the franchise. The strategic partnership between MCC and Cricket Investor Holdings blends tradition with innovation, maintaining the legacy of Lord’s while expanding the franchise’s commercial and global horizons.
While the ECB continues to oversee the competition itself, this new ownership model promises to make London Spirit a global sporting brand and inject fresh energy into English domestic cricket. With such influential backers, the Spirit are now poised to transform their fortunes and compete not just on the field but also in the global cricketing economy.
Alongside its revamped ownership, London Spirit has also strengthened its brand through high-profile sponsorship deals, headlined by its title sponsor Tyrrells. Known for its premium hand-cooked crisps, Tyrrells brings a distinct British identity and a quality-first ethos — both of which align seamlessly with the Spirit’s Lord’s-based image.
Title Sponsors Over the Years
Tyrrells (2025–present) – Appointed as the title sponsor ahead of the 2025 season, Tyrrells now features prominently on team kits and in marketing campaigns. The partnership focuses on blending the Spirit’s heritage with Tyrrells’ premium product identity, offering fans curated matchday experiences and branded content.
KP Snacks (2021–2024) – As the official sponsor of The Hundred, KP Snacks branding was visible across all eight teams, including the London Spirit. Their range of snacks was a regular feature in fan zones and in-stadium activations.
More Links