Manchester Originals 2025 Players List: History, Records and Achievements

Manchester Originals Men’s History

The Manchester Originals have been one of the most compelling and competitive franchises in The Hundred Men’s competition since its inception in 2021. Representing Lancashire County and based out of the iconic Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, the Originals have consistently put up strong performances. While the elusive title has continued to evade them, the franchise has played some of the most memorable cricket in the tournament’s short history.

Formed as part of the ECB’s bold experiment to revolutionize the sport with a 100-ball format, the Manchester Originals were built with a strong English core, including superstars like Jos Buttler and Phil Salt. Over the years, they’ve also welcomed overseas talents like Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Heinrich Klaasen, creating a side known for its aggressive batting, versatile bowling attack, and explosive match-winning ability. The franchise’s foundation was laid with an attacking brand of cricket, supported by an experienced coaching group led by Simon Katich. 

The early seasons were a mix of promise and underachievement. In 2021, the Originals had a disappointing start, finishing 6th despite flashes of brilliance. However, the following years saw a shift. In 2022, the team reached the final under Jos Buttler’s captaincy, only to fall short against Trent Rockets. The heartbreak didn’t end there as 2023 saw them return to the final, this time losing to Oval Invincibles in a closely contested clash. The back-to-back final appearances signaled the rise of Manchester Originals as genuine title contenders.

The 2024 season was expected to be another strong campaign, but the absence of Jos Buttler saw Phil Salt take over as captain. Despite his leadership, the team struggled to find the same rhythm and fell short of the playoffs. With Buttler expected to return at the helm for the 2025 edition, the Originals are hoping to finally break their title drought and etch their name into The Hundred history books.

With two finals under their belt and a core that has remained largely intact, the men from Old Trafford are hungry to go one step further and claim the trophy that has slipped through their fingers twice.

Manchester Originals Men’s Journey in The Hundred (Season-by-Season)

Manchester Originals Men’s Captains and Vice-Captains Over the Years

The Manchester Originals, based out of the iconic Old Trafford and representing Lancashire in The Hundred, have experienced a mixed journey since the tournament began in 2021. One of the defining characteristics of their campaign over the years has been a rotating captaincy, largely driven by England’s national commitments that have seen regular skipper Jos Buttler miss multiple games. While some teams like the Oval Invincibles have maintained leadership stability, the Originals have had to adapt on the go with different captains stepping in across seasons.

Despite this inconsistency in leadership, Manchester Originals have remained highly competitive reaching two finals and developing a squad capable of challenging for the title every year. Their captains and vice-captains over the years have played a crucial role in keeping the team motivated and adaptable in the face of constant change.

Here’s a detailed look at the captains and vice-captains of the Manchester Originals men’s team over the years:

Jos Buttler (Captain: 2021–2023, Expected 2025)

Jos Buttler, the dynamic England white-ball skipper, has been the face of the Manchester Originals since their inception. Appointed as the original captain in 2021, Buttler’s availability has often been impacted by national commitments. Nevertheless, whenever he’s taken the field for the Originals, he’s brought tactical sharpness, calm leadership, and elite batting quality to the side.

Buttler’s most memorable campaign came in 2023, when he led the team to the final before falling short against the Oval Invincibles. His leadership has often been praised for allowing players to express themselves freely, with a focus on aggressive cricket.

Phil Salt (Captain: 2024, Vice-Captain: 2022–2023)

Phil Salt stepped into the captain’s role in 2024 when Jos Buttler was unavailable due to England duties. Known for his explosive top-order batting, Salt’s stint as captain, however, didn’t go as planned. The team endured a tough season with just 1 win in 8 matches.

Though his captaincy record wasn’t impressive, Salt has been a consistent performer with the bat and an important leadership figure in the squad, especially as vice-captain in previous seasons.

Laurie Evans (Captain: 2022 – Stand-in)

In Jos Buttler’s absence during the 2022 season, Laurie Evans led the side in five matches and impressed everyone with a remarkable 80% win rate. His calm demeanor and tactical acumen ensured the Originals remained in playoff contention.

Evans’ leadership stint was short but significant and remains one of the most successful by a stand-in captain in The Hundred.

Carlos Brathwaite (Captain: 2021 – Stand-in)

West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite captained the team for most of the 2021 season, stepping in when Jos Buttler was unavailable. Brathwaite brought flair and energy to the side, though results didn’t quite go their way. His short tenure laid the early groundwork for the Originals’ aggressive playing style.

Manchester Originals Squad 2025 

Manchester Originals Administration and Support Staff 2025

Manchester Originals The Hundred Men’s 2025 Fixtures and Schedule 

Manchester Originals Men’s Achievements and Records

The Manchester Originals, representing Lancashire in The Hundred Men’s competition, have been one of the most consistent and competitive teams in the tournament since its inception in 2021. While the elusive title has so far remained out of reach, the franchise has carved a reputation for being dangerous contenders, producing thrilling performances and reaching two finals in a span of four completed seasons.

Based out of the legendary Old Trafford cricket ground, the Originals have always had star power and a fearless playing style. Their standout seasons in 2022 and 2023, where they finished runners-up both times, remain high points in their Hundred journey so far.

Here’s a closer look at the team’s key achievements and records as of July 2025:

Manchester Originals Team Records (As of July 2025) 

The Manchester Originals have delivered some memorable performances across their Hundred campaigns, with a best-ever team total of 208/5 against Northern Superchargers in 2022 standing as their most dominant batting display. However, their lowest point came in 2024 when they were restricted to just 86/8 by Welsh Fire. The team’s most consistent seasons were in 2022 and 2023, registering five wins in each and making back-to-back playoff and final appearances. Despite these achievements, the elusive title continues to evade the Originals, with zero championships to date and their best league finish being 2nd place in both 2022 and 2023.

Manchester Originals Individual Records (As of July 2025) 

Phil Salt has been the standout performer for the Manchester Originals, leading the charts for most runs (935), most fours (93), most sixes (42), and highest individual score (86). His six fifties further highlight his consistency at the top of the order. On the bowling front, Tom Hartley has emerged as the team’s most successful bowler with 30 wickets, while Calvin Harrison’s incredible 5/11 against Northern Superchargers in 2023 remains the best bowling performance in team history. Laurie Evans leads the fielding stats with 13 catches, but notably, the Originals are yet to witness a player score a century in The Hundred.

Manchester Originals Key Rivals

Whether it’s final heartbreaks, regional clashes, or tightly-fought thrillers, Manchester’s fixtures have rarely been short of drama. Here’s a closer look at the Manchester Originals' most defining rivalries in The Hundred so far.

Manchester Originals vs Northern Superchargers

The War of the North. That’s what fans have begun calling this fierce regional rivalry between Manchester Originals and Northern Superchargers. With both sides representing cricket-loving Northern counties, every clash has had a derby-like intensity. Whether at Headingley or Old Trafford, the atmosphere is electric.

The derby between the Manchester and Leeds based teams has lived up to its billing till now.  With seven matches played in the four seasons till now the Northern Superchargers have had a slender edge over the Manchester Originals. The Manchester Originals have won three matches while the Northern Superchargers have won four. 

Manchester Originals vs Oval Invincibles

This rivalry took off in spectacular fashion during the 2023 final, where Manchester Originals were denied their maiden title by a dominant Oval Invincibles side. Since then, every encounter between these two has carried extra weight. With both franchises boasting strong squads and consistent playoff runs, their matches feel like early previews of the final.

The Rockets have been a thorn in Manchester’s side, especially in knockout scenarios. Their superior head-to-head record highlights the Originals’ difficulty in overcoming the Trent-based side. With both teams eyeing playoff berths each season, this rivalry continues to grow in significance.

Manchester Originals vs Trent Rockets

Another exciting modern rivalry has been between Trent Rockets and Manchester Originals. This rivalry gained traction after several close group-stage battles and a fiery eliminator in 2023, where Manchester edged past Rockets to deny them another shot at the title. These two sides have a strong fan base and regularly produce edge-of-the-seat thrillers.

Manchester Originals vs London Spirit

The Originals vs Spirit rivalry has brewed quietly but intensely, with both sides fielding aggressive line-ups and national team regulars. The matches often carry the added narrative of North vs South and have featured standout individual performances.

The Manchester Originals and the London Spirit have played a total of four games between each other and there is nothing separating the two sides. Both teams have won two encounters each making it one of the closest fought rivalries in the Hundred. 

Manchester Originals Team Owners and Sponsorships

The Manchester Originals, one of the most popular and competitive franchises in The Hundred, are entering a new era in 2025 Having reached two finals in four seasons and consistently fielded a strong squad, the Originals have not only carved a strong identity on the pitch but also undergone a major shift off it. From being rooted in Lancashire’s proud county cricket traditions to now being partially owned by an IPL powerhouse, RPSG group. 

Owners: Lancashire Cricket and RPSG Group

For the first four seasons of The Hundred (2021–2024), the Manchester Originals were fully owned and operated by Lancashire County Cricket Club (LCCC), in partnership with the ECB. 

However, 2025 marks a major turning point not just for the Originals, but for The Hundred itself. In a strategic move aimed at injecting financial muscle and global expertise into the competition, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to open up all eight teams to private investment. This opened the doors for some of the biggest names in franchise cricket to enter the English market.

As part of this shift, Lancashire CCC sold a 70% stake in Manchester Originals to the RPSG Group, the Indian conglomerate that also owns the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The deal, reportedly valued at £116 million, makes RPSG Group the majority shareholder in the Originals, with LCCC retaining a minority 30% stake.

The move aligns with Lancashire’s long-stated ambition of partnering with a leading IPL franchise to elevate their brand, improve finances, and expand international reach. RPSG’s acquisition followed months of negotiations and edged out other high-profile bidders, including Reliance Industries. With this joint venture, the Originals become the latest franchise in The Hundred to embrace the IPL model.

For RPSG Group, this acquisition adds to their growing presence in global franchise cricket. Known for their structured management, strategic planning, and data-driven approach in the IPL, the group is expected to bring innovation and commercial expansion to the Manchester franchise. 

Manchester Originals Sponsors

Title Sponsor: McCoy’s

Since the inaugural season of The Hundred in 2021, McCoy’s has been the official Title Partner and Main Sponsor of Manchester Originals. As a flagship brand under KP Snacks, The Hundred’s central commercial partner, McCoy’s has featured prominently on team jerseys, stadium branding, and promotional campaigns. 

Manchester Originals Fan Following

The Manchester Originals have emerged as one of the most recognisable and well-supported teams in The Hundred, thanks in large part to their deep connection with Lancashire County Cricket Club and the iconic Emirates Old Trafford. Since the tournament’s inception in 2021, the Originals have benefitted from a loyal and passionate fanbase rooted in Manchester’s rich cricketing culture.

Emirates Old Trafford, the Originals’ home ground, is one of England’s most storied cricket venues, with a strong legacy of international fixtures and domestic excellence. This has helped the team attract consistent home support from Lancashire members and local cricket lovers. The club’s association with the prestigious Lancashire County has provided it with a ready-made fan base, which few other Hundred teams can claim to match. On matchdays, the atmosphere at Old Trafford is electric, with fans draped in black turning out in force to cheer on the Originals.

The fanbase is also set to grow significantly following the 2025 acquisition of a 70% stake in Manchester Originals by RPSG Group, owners of the IPL’s Lucknow Super Giants. This move has opened the doors for cross-border fan engagement, especially in India where RPSG enjoys a substantial cricketing following. The partnership is expected to drive digital engagement, merchandising, and fan activations across both markets, making the Originals a more visible brand in the global cricket landscape.

With new ownership and renewed squad heading into the 2025 season, the Manchester Originals will be looking to finally end their drought and win their first ever Men’s Hundred title.