England and Wales Cricket Board’s exciting, innovative and revolutionary 100-ball tournament The Hundred is all set to start from Tuesday, 5th August 2025 with the london derby clash between the Oval Invincibles women’s side and the London Spirit women’s side. There’s a lot of excitement heading into the fifth edition of the Hundred as the tournament’s format has intrigued spectators around the globe and made it one of the most sought after franchise cricket tournaments in the world. Additionally, The...
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The London Spirit Women’s team has had a rollercoaster journey since the inception of The Hundred in 2021. Representing the historic counties of Middlesex and MCC, and playing their home games at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Spirit have grown from a team struggling for consistency to becoming champions of the competition. Through fluctuating performances and changing leadership, their journey is one of resilience, rebuilding, and redemption.
The team was established as part of the ECB’s initiative to bring an exciting, fast-paced 100-ball format to the forefront of franchise cricket. In their debut season in 2021, the Spirit showed plenty of promise, making it to the playoffs and finishing third overall. With England legend Heather Knight at the helm and Trevor Griffin as head coach, they looked like a team capable of challenging for titles early on. However, the seasons that followed painted a more difficult picture.
In 2022, London Spirit’s form dipped considerably as they failed to find rhythm in either department. Struggles with batting depth and inconsistent bowling performances saw them crash to a disappointing seventh-place finish. 2023 brought slight improvement, but not enough to mount a serious challenge for the playoffs. The team ended sixth, and the inconsistency persisted despite possessing a talented squad. It was clear that Spirit needed a shift in leadership and tactical approach.
That much-needed change arrived in 2024. Charlie Dean was appointed captain, and her leadership proved to be a turning point in the franchise’s fortunes. Under the guidance of new head coach Chris Liddle, London Spirit played fearless, clinical cricket. From dominating performances in the league stages to a composed victory in the final against Welsh Fire, Spirit clinched their maiden Hundred title. It was a season that brought renewed energy to the dressing room and finally gave the Lord’s faithful something to celebrate.
Now, heading into the 2025 season, the London Spirit Women are no longer underdogs—they are the team to beat. With Charlie Dean leading from the front and Chris Liddle orchestrating strategy from the sidelines, the Spirit are determined to defend their crown and etch their name into the history books as a dominant force in The Hundred. From struggling for consistency to becoming champions, their evolution has been one of the standout stories in women’s franchise cricket.
Since the inception of The Hundred in 2021, the London Spirit Women’s team has undergone a leadership evolution reflective of their journey in the tournament from early promise to struggles, and eventually, redemption. Based at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground and representing the historic counties of Middlesex and the MCC, London Spirit’s fortunes have often mirrored the leadership dynamics at the top. Over the years, the captaincy baton has been held by just two individuals. England stalwart Heather Knight and all-rounder Charlie Dean. Each bringing her own leadership flavour to the franchise.
Heather Knight, the inaugural captain, led the side through its formative years and helped lay the foundation for the team’s ethos and character. With a calm head, vast international experience, and strong tactical acumen, she was seen as the ideal figure to usher Spirit into the competitive world of The Hundred. Yet, despite her stature and leadership, results were mixed, and the team struggled to find consistency across her three-year tenure.
In 2024, the franchise turned a new page by naming Charlie Dean as captain. The young England spinner brought a refreshing energy and tactical sharpness to the role. That decision proved pivotal — under her leadership, the London Spirit women’s team turned their fortunes around and clinched their maiden title. Alongside Dean, several vice-captains have stepped up over the years, offering support and continuity, especially during injury layoffs or leadership transitions.
Let’s take a deeper look at how the captain and vice-captain combinations have shaped London Spirit’s women’s team over the years:
As one of England’s most respected cricketers, Heather Knight was the natural choice to lead London Spirit when the tournament began. A seasoned leader with experience in winning global trophies, Knight brought poise and leadership quality that gave the franchise a solid start. She led the team to the playoffs in the opening season, but back-to-back disappointing campaigns in 2022 and 2023 saw Spirit drop out of contention.
Still, Knight’s contributions as captain were about more than results. She helped build the early core of the team, mentored younger players like Freya Davies and Grace Scrivens, and helped Spirit maintain a sense of professionalism and discipline even through rough patches.
Charlie Dean’s appointment in 2024 was a move aimed at injecting new life into the franchise — and it paid off immediately. The young off-spinner was a revelation as captain, leading from the front with both ball and brain. Her spirited leadership style, strategic nous, and aggressive field placements transformed Spirit into a well-oiled unit that peaked at the right time.
Under her captaincy, London Spirit defeated the formidable Welsh Fire in the final to lift their first Hundred title. She’s been ably supported by vice-captain Grace Scrivens, who has been growing in stature as a player and leader in her own right.
The London Spirit Women’s team, based out of the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, has been one of the most intriguing franchises in The Hundred since the tournament’s launch in 2021. Representing Middlesex and the historic Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Spirit’s journey has been marked by early promise, seasons of struggle, and a spectacular return to form. Their crowning moment came in 2024 when they lifted their maiden title, a reward for years of persistence, rebuild, and renewed leadership.
Here’s a breakdown of the team and individual records that define London Spirit Women’s journey so far:
London Spirit Women’s team records reflect a journey of steady progression and eventual success. Their highest team total of 172/5 came in 2023 against Birmingham Phoenix, showcasing their batting potential. Despite a low of 85/9 in 2022, the team peaked in 2024 — recording their most wins (6), most consecutive wins (4), and finishing 2nd in the league before going on to win the title. With two playoff appearances and their first championship secured in 2024, Spirit have transformed into one of the most competitive sides in the tournament.
Individual brilliance has been central to London Spirit’s evolution. Heather Knight leads in most runs (597) and fours (76), anchoring the batting unit over multiple seasons. Beth Mooney’s 97* remains the highest individual score, while Amelia Kerr holds the best bowling figures with 4/13. Sarah Glenn leads the wicket charts with 24 dismissals, and Danielle Gibson shines as both a boundary-hitter (7 sixes) and leading fielder (15 catches). These stats underline the impact of both established internationals and rising stars in shaping the Spirit’s journey.
The London Spirit Women’s side may have had a mixed journey in The Hundred so far, but there’s never been a shortage of passion, drama, and tension when they step onto the field — especially against certain rivals. Whether it's local bragging rights or hard-fought clashes for playoff contention, London Spirit have built rivalries that add edge to every season. From geographical battles to competitive duels born out of history and heart, these rivalries have been central to the Spirit's growth as a team.
Let’s take a closer look at the key rivalries that have defined London Spirit Women’s journey in The Hundred.
The London Derby is one of the most anticipated matches in the calendar not just for the cricketing rivalry but also for the sheer atmosphere it brings. It’s a battle for capital supremacy, played out in front of packed crowds and roaring fans. And while the games have often lived up to the hype in terms of intensity, the results have been overwhelmingly one-sided.
Oval Invincibles have dominated this fixture, flexing their all-round strength to keep their neighbours in check. The London Spirit have only won two out of the six games played between the two sides but the defending champions will be eager to overturn this stat heading into the 2025 season.
While not as high-profile as the derby, the rivalry between London Spirit and Trent Rockets has grown steadily, marked by tense finishes, standout performances, and moments of brilliance. This matchup has often acted as a yardstick for Spirit, especially in seasons when they’ve tried to claw their way back into playoff contention.
As exciting as the matches have been between the two sides, the result unfortunately has always favoured the Trent Rockets. The Trent Rockets have won all four of the matches they have played against the London Spirit.
This is one of those under-the-radar rivalries that rarely disappoints. London Spirit and Northern Superchargers have shared some thrilling contests, and while the teams haven’t always been among the frontrunners, their head-to-heads have consistently been competitive. From shock collapses to match-winning innings, this rivalry has had it all.
In 2021, the Superchargers humbled Spirit by bowling them out for just 92/9 — one of the team’s lowest-ever totals. But the Spirit roared back in the following years with key wins. With both teams locked at two wins apiece, this rivalry remains delicately poised, and their upcoming fixtures promise more thrilling chapters.
Not the most talked-about rivalry, but definitely one of the most compelling. Whenever London Spirit face Manchester Originals, it’s a battle between two teams with big ambitions and something to prove.
The London Spirit have had the upper hand over the Manchester Originals in their fixture as they have emerged victorious on two occasions where as there has been a no result due to rain which has meant two of the matches between the sides getting called off.
The London Spirit Women’s team has grown into one of The Hundred’s most marketable and competitive franchises, blending a strong legacy association with Lord’s with modern-day investment power. From the stewardship of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to the recent landmark entry of global tech billionaires, the team’s ownership and sponsorship profile in 2025 reflects the evolving dynamics of English franchise cricket. With Tyrrell’s leading the way as their title sponsor, London Spirit are entering a new commercial chapter underpinned by ambition, innovation, and global reach.
For the first four seasons of The Hundred (2021–2024), London Spirit was owned and operated by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), custodians of the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. As hosts of the franchise, MCC played a central role in nurturing the team’s early development both on and off the pitch. This traditional ownership structure ensured a deep-rooted link between the Spirit brand and the spiritual home of cricket, giving the team an identity steeped in prestige, tradition, and English cricketing heritage.
However, 2025 marked a watershed moment for London Spirit and The Hundred as a whole. In an ambitious move to modernise the competition and inject fresh capital, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) opened the door to private investment across all eight franchises. MCC retained its 51% stake in the Spirit but, in line with the ECB’s vision, agreed to sell the remaining 49% stake to Cricket Investor Holdings Ltd. for a reported £145 million, valuing the franchise at approximately £300 million — the highest valuation in the competition so far.
Cricket Investor Holdings Ltd. is a consortium of 11 high-net-worth individuals, spearheaded by Nikesh Arora, CEO of cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks. The group also includes several of the most powerful names in the global tech ecosystem, such as Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Sundar Pichai (Google), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe), and Egon Durban (Silver Lake Management). Co-founder of Major League Cricket and Times Internet vice-chairman Satyan Gajwani is also a key figure in the group, highlighting the consortium’s serious cricketing intent alongside their business pedigree.
The landmark sale not only brought the biggest financial deal yet to The Hundred but also signalled a powerful endorsement of Lord’s as an elite global sporting asset. The high-profile nature of the buyers many of whom have links to the US, India, and the broader tech economy elevates London Spirit’s international standing and positions them to benefit from cross-continental opportunities in tech, sports, and digital engagement.
While the ECB remains in control of the tournament itself, this partial sale represents a shift toward long-term financial sustainability and global appeal. The MCC’s decision to retain their majority stake ensures that Spirit’s ties to Lord’s and English cricket tradition remain intact, while Cricket Investor Holdings brings the strategic depth and innovation required to compete in an increasingly commercial and globally connected cricketing landscape.
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
Heading into the season, Charlie Dean and Chris Liddle the coach have a lot of expectations surrounding their shoulders as they will be looking to win back to back Hundred titles.
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