The Welsh players competing in The Hundred in 2026
· Yahoo Sports
As Welsh cricket continues to build momentum, a record amount of homegrown talent will fly the flag for their country in this year's Hundred.
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Six players are set to take part in the sixth edition of the divisive 100-ball competition - Wales' biggest contribution yet.
Three of these will take the field for home franchise Welsh Fire, as they search for their maiden title under the ownership of tech billionaire Sanjay Govil.
Two will look to make an impact in the purple and black of London Spirit - while the other will represent Nottingham's Trent Rockets.
BBC Sport Wales takes a closer look at the home interest.
Ben Kellaway - Welsh Fire
Ben Kellaway was named Player of the Match on his Hundred debut with Welsh Fire last season [Getty Images]After impressing on his debut season, Newport-born Kellaway has been selected to represent Welsh Fire again this year.
Alongside fellow youngsters such as Tom Norton, he has helped propel Glamorgan forwards in what has been their first season back in the Championship since 2005.
"Having a little opportunity last year was awesome to get stuck in, it's a very similar format to T20 but it takes a bit of getting used to," said Kellaway.
"The standard of cricketers that play in it are world class so you raise your game a little bit again.
"As you go up those levels you've got no choice but to get stuck in and express yourself and hopefully you can come out with some good performances and some success."
Alongside fellow Glamorgan team-mate and England Lions team-mate Asa Tribe, Kellaway will be sharing a dressing room some of the biggest names in cricket.
They include former World cup winners and England internationals Joe Root and Chris Woakes and will be captained by Welsh-born England T20 opener Phil Salt.
"It's going to be really nice to share a dressing room with some of those players and any opportunities I get to play this year I'll snatch at them," Kellaway said.
"Just to be surrounded by these guys for a month or so, training and outside of cricket of life as well, I can feed off them and ask them questions, it's invaluable for a youngster like me."
Phil Salt - Welsh Fire
Welsh Fire captain Phil Salt holds the men's record for most runs in the competition [Getty Images]England T20 international Phil Salt returns to his country of birth as he prepares to captain the Welsh Fire this year.
Salt - who was born in north Wales - is the top scorer in The Hundred with a remarkable 1,138 runs to his name.
Despite Welsh Fire men's side failing to reach the play-offs since the competition launched in 2021, Salt says the decision to join was easy.
"From the first conversation it felt like a no-brainer. It was a big opportunity for me to come back to Wales being a very proud Welshman," said Salt.
"I could see the opportunity in front of me early doors that we could change things with the auction, the reset and the direct signings.
"To take us to the play-offs, talk about how we win the trophy, it really excites me."
Salt's optimism is shared by Welsh Fire supporters who are quietly optimistic for a change in fortunes this year.
"With the group that we've got hopefully we are going to start fast, be aggressive, always take the positive option," Salt said.
"There's a tactical element to it as well, we've got to be smart with what we do as well, but there's so much experience in the dressing room I think it will come quite naturally to us.
Salt will lead his team out for the first time on Wednesday, 22 July as they face Southern Brave in Southampton (18:30 BST).
Sophia Smale - Welsh fire
Sophia Smale took eight wickets on her debut season in the Hundred for Oval Invincibles, the side's joint-leading wicket-taker [Getty Images]An ever-present in the Hundred since making her debut back in 2022, Sophia Smale is the only Welsh woman representing the home franchise this summer.
The Newport-born all-rounder - who currently plays her domestic cricket with Essex - is an exciting talent and was recently selected by England Women's A to play three T20 and ODI Tests against India.
Smale, 21, won the 2022 edition of the competition with Oval Invincibles in her debut campaign and was the side's joint-leading wicket-taker.
Smale took some big scalps en-route to the title, including former Australian captain Alyssa Healy and former New Zealand captain Sophie Devine.
She will now get the opportunity to share a dressing room with former foe Devine, who captains Welsh Fire this season, and will bid to spark a revival for the competition's worst performing franchise.
The women head to Southampton's Utilita Bowl for a clash with Southern Brave (14:45 BST).
Kiran Carlson - London Spirit
Kiran Carlson hit 100 off just 42 balls against Somerset in this year's Vitality Blast, the second-fastest hundred in the history of the competition [Getty Images]Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson has enjoyed a remarkable season so far.
Despite the Welsh county narrowly missing out on a quarter-final spot in the Vitality Blast, Carlson has impressed in both white and red-ball cricket.
His excellence at the crease has helped fire Glamorgan to their lofty position in the County Championship table - and also secured selection for London Spirit.
The London franchise are yet to enjoy success on the men's side but will hope the hard-hitting batsman can help them improve on their third place finish back in 2022 - their best performance in the competition so far.
Cardiff-born Carlson will feature alongside a plethora of international cricketers, such as former World Cup winner and England international Jonny Bairstow.
Carlson will look to showcase his ability at one of cricket's most iconic venues - Lord's - as they hunt to make the play-offs for just the second time.
They begin their campaign on Thursday, 23 July as they host Manchester Super Giants at Lords (18:30 BST).
Seren Smale - London Spirit
Seren Smale has made two appearances for the England T20I team against Ireland in 2024 [Getty Images]Seren Smale completes the Welsh line-up in this year's competition, as she joins Kiran Carlson at London Spirit.
Despite sharing a surname with Welsh Fire's Sophia Smale, the pair are not related - but the former England Under-19 team-mates share a close friendship.
The 2024 women's champions London Spirit are seeking their third consecutive play-off appearance and will look to improve on last season's third place finish.
Smale was the first Welsh woman to play for England since Steph Davies in 2008 and will be eager to help fire London Spirit to a second Hundred title.
They begin their campaign by welcoming Manchester Super Giants on Thursday, 23 July (14:45 BST).
Aneurin Donald - Trent Rockets
On 17 July 2016, Aneurin Donald equalled Ravi Shastri's record for the fastest ever double hundred in first-class cricket, off just 123 balls [Getty Images]Swansea-born Aneurin Donald is also set to feature in this year's competition.
The former Glamorgan player will play his cricket out of the historic Trent Bridge, after being selected by 2022 winners, Trent Rockets.
Donald - a former England Under-19 international - will play alongside a whole host of international cricketers, including Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed, Australia's Tim David and England top-order batsman Ben Duckett.
Beginning his career at Gorseinon Cricket Club, the Welshman has made a name for himself as a destructive top-order batsman in both white and red-ball cricket.
The Nottingham-based franchise will look to use Donald's expertise at the crease, as they seek to avenge their defeat to MI London in last year's final and go one step further to win their second title.
After two stints with Birmingham Phoenix, Donald could make his Trent Rockets debut at his old stomping ground Edgbaston, as he faces his former club on Friday, 24 July (18:30 BST) in their campaign opener.