It will be the first senior leadership role of Ecclestone’s career and may carry long-term significance from England’s perspective. She has never captained a professional team but has long been established as their frontline spinner, and in the long term, could become an option to succeed Heather Knight.
“I’m buzzing to be captaining Manchester Originals this year,” Ecclestone said in an ECB press release. “The Hundred is such a great competition to take part in and I can’t wait to lead the girls out at Emirates Old Trafford.”
Six of the eight teams have now confirmed their men’s and women’s captains, with Northern Superchargers and defending men’s champions Trent Rockets the two exceptions.
The tournament will run from August 1-27 in 2023, with a standalone window that means it will not clash with any England men’s or women’s fixtures for the first time.
The Hundred 2023 captains:
Birmingham Phoenix: Ellyse Perry, Moeen Ali
London Spirit: Heather Knight, Dan Lawrence
Manchester Originals: Sophie Ecclestone, Jos Buttler
Northern Superchargers: TBC
Oval Invincibles: Dane van Niekerk, Sam Billings
Southern Brave: Anya Shrubsole, James Vince
Trent Rockets: TBC
Welsh Fire: Tammy Beaumont, Tom Abell