London Spirit’s men are one of the favourites to win because of their squad’s experience across numerous T20 franchise leagues.
Spirit may lose the likes of Mark Wood and Zak Crawley to England duty, but they are well stocked with the likes of Ravi Bopara and Jade Dernbach both talented and experienced enough to cover.
They also have a plethora of slow-bowling options which may prove handy on some of the larger grounds.
The women’s team will be boosted by the experience and aggression of West Indies’ T20 World Cup winner Deandra Dottin. The first female cricketer to hit 100 sixes in T20 internationals, she is sure to provide explosiveness and power.
As a young and agile side, Spirit should prove to be entertaining and their bowling has been strengthened with the recent addition of India all-rounder Deepti Sharma.
Charlie Dean’s bowling performances in the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy are sure to have caught the eye of opposition batters and Danielle Gibson, who has been ravaged by injury, is finally fit and raring to go.