Meg Lanning, Australia's multi-World Cup-winning captain, will make her debut in English domestic cricket this summer after signing for Trent Rockets in the second season of the Hundred.
Lanning was one of 11 Australians to pull out of the Hundred's first season in 2021 due to restrictions on international travel and the competition's proximity to their home series against India. She had previously withdrawn from a planned stint in the Kia Super League due to injury and is one of the few members of the Australia set-up who has never played domestic cricket in England.
This year, she will lead a contingent of 10 members of the squad that went unbeaten the 50-over World Cup as well as an 11th Australian in Sophie Molineux, who missed that tournament through injury.
The women's Hundred starts on August 11, four days after the final of the T20 tournament at the Commonwealth Games which will be held in its entirety at Edgbaston, and as a result the calibre of overseas players involved is significantly higher than in the tournament's first season. Wages have also doubled, with Lanning among the players due to earn £31,250 from their involvement.
Twelve overseas players were confirmed on Tuesday, adding to the dozen that had previously signed up. The signings announced were: Megan Schutt, Beth Mooney, Amelia Kerr (all London Spirit), Rachael Haynes, Annabel Sutherland (both Welsh Fire), Deandra Dottin, Amy Satterthwaite (both Manchester Originals), Lanning, Mignon du Preez, Alana King (all Trent Rockets), Molineux (Birmingham Phoenix) and Tahlia McGrath (Southern Brave).
Several English players have also moved teams for the 2022 edition, headlined by Tammy Beaumont's decision to leave London Spirit and captain Welsh Fire. She will be joined in Cardiff by Fran Wilson, Alex Hartley, Fi Morris and Sarah Bryce, who have all signed contracts after leaving their previous teams.
Elsewhere, Lauren Winfield-Hill has left Northern Superchargers in order to keep wicket for defending champions Oval Invincibles (Superchargers retained Alyssa Healy who will take the gloves) while Georgia Adams and Jo Gardner have left Invincibles to join Brave. Jenny Gunn, the veteran seamer who did not play in the inaugural season, has joined Superchargers and Bryony Smith will play for Rockets.
Each women's team will sign an overseas 'wildcard' player later in the summer, with a maximum of three overseas players permitted in a single playing XI.
New women's signings
London Spirit: Beth Mooney (Welsh Fire), Amelia Kerr (Southern Brave), Megan Schutt, Sophie Luff (Welsh Fire)
Welsh Fire: Tammy Beaumont (captain, London Spirit), Rachael Haynes (Oval Invincibles), Annabel Sutherland (Trent Rockets), Fran Wilson (Oval Invincibles), Alex Hartley (Manchester Originals), Fi Morris (Southern Brave), Sarah Bryce (Oval Invincibles)
Manchester Originals: Deandra Dottin (London Spirit), Amy Satterthwaite, Ami Campbell (Northern Superchargers), Phoebe Graham (Northern Superchargers), Grace Potts
Northern Superchargers: Jenny Gunn, Lucy Higham (Trent Rockets)
Oval Invincibles: Lauren Winfield-Hill (Northern Superchargers), Aylish Cranstone (London Spirit), Emily Windsor (Trent Rockets), Eva Gray (Retained), Kira Chathili
Trent Rockets: Meg Lanning (Welsh Fire), Mignon du Preez (Manchester Originals), Bryony Smith (Welsh Fire), Alana King, Marie Kelly (Birmingham Phoenix), Sophie Munro (London Spirit), Alexa Stonehouse, Georgia Davis (Retained)
Birmingham Phoenix: Sophie Molineux (Trent Rockets), Sterre Kalis (Northern Superchargers)
Southern Brave: Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Adams (Oval Invincibles), Jo Gardner (Oval Invincibles), Freya Kemp (Retained), Ella McCaughan (Retained)