# Southern Brave

Southern Brave is a franchise 100-ball cricket side based in the city of Southampton. The team represents the historic counties of Hampshire and Sussex in the newly founded The Hundred competition, which took place for the first time during the 2021 English and Welsh cricket season. Both the men's side and the women's side play at the Rose Bowl, Hampshire.

## History

The announcement of the new eight-team men's and women's tournament series in 2019 was not without controversy, with the likes of Virat Kohli criticising the England and Wales Cricket Board for pursuing a shift away from Test cricket, while others argued the format should have followed the established and successful Twenty20 format. The ECB, however, decided it needed a more distinctive format to draw crowds.
In August 2019 the side announced that former Sri Lanka batsman and 2019 IPL winning coach Mahela Jayawardene would be the men's team's first coach, while former England Women captain Charlotte Edwards was appointed coach of the Women's team. Jayawardene will be assisted by former two former Hampshire players: Former New Zealand international bowler Shane Bond and former opening batsmen and current coach of Hampshire 2nd XI Jimmy Adams, while Richard Halsall will also assist the men's side.
The inaugural Hundred draft took place in October 2019 and saw the Brave claim Jofra Archer as their headline men's draftee, and Anya Shrubsole as the women's headliner. They are joined by England international James Vince and Chris Jordan for the men's team, while Danielle Wyatt joins Shrubsole on the women's side.

## Honours
### Men's honours

The Hundred
* Winners: 2021
* Runners-up: 2024
* Third place: 2023

### Women's honours

The Hundred
* Winners: 2023
* Runners-up: 2021, 2022

## Ground

Both the Southern Brave men's and women's sides play at the home in Hampshire County Cricket Club, the Ageas Bowl, in West End, a short distance outside of Southampton. The women's side had been due to play at the home in Sussex County Cricket Club, the County Ground in Hove, but both teams were brought together at the same ground as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Current squads

* Bold denotes players with international caps.

### Women's side

| No. | Name | Nationality | Date of birth (age) | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
| Batters |||||||
| 16 | Maia Bouchier | England | (1998-12-05) 5 December 1998 (age 26) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 28 | Danni Wyatt-Hodge | England | (1991-04-22) 22 April 1991 (age 33) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| — | Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa | (1999-04-26) 26 April 1999 (age 25) | Right-handed | — | Overseas player |
| All-rounders |||||||
| 1 | Georgia Adams | England | (1993-10-04) 4 October 1993 (age 31) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Captain |
| 6 | Freya Kemp | England | (2005-04-21) 21 April 2005 (age 19) | Left-handed | Left-arm medium | |
| 25 | Chloe Tryon | South Africa | (1994-01-25) 25 January 1994 (age 31) | Right-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | Overseas player |
| — | Sophie Devine | New Zealand | (1989-09-01) 1 September 1989 (age 35) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Overseas player |
| Wicket-keepers |||||||
| 17 | Rhianna Southby | England | (2000-10-16) 16 October 2000 (age 24) | Right-handed | — | |
| Pace bowlers |||||||
| 63 | Lauren Bell | England | (2001-01-02) 2 January 2001 (age 24) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | |
| — | Phoebe Graham | England | (1991-10-23) 23 October 1991 (age 33) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Spin bowlers |||||||
| 21 | Matilda Corteen-Coleman | England | (2007-08-23) 23 August 2007 (age 17) | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | |
| — | Josie Groves | England | (2004-09-05) 5 September 2004 (age 20) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| — | Mady Villiers | England | (1998-08-26) 26 August 1998 (age 26) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |

#### Men's side

| No. | Name | Nationality | Date of birth (age) | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
| Batters |||||||
| 14 | James Vince | England | (1991-03-14) 14 March 1991 (age 34) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Captain |
| 23 | Laurie Evans | England | (1987-10-12) 12 October 1987 (age 37) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| 46 | Finn Allen | New Zealand | (1999-04-22) 22 April 1999 (age 25) | Right-handed | — | Overseas player |
| 76 | Leus du Plooy | South Africa | (1995-01-12) 12 January 1995 (age 30) | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | EU passport |
| — | Faf du Plessis | South Africa | (1984-07-13) 13 July 1984 (age 40) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | Overseas player |
| All-rounders |||||||
| 30 | James Coles | England | (2004-04-02) 2 April 2004 (age 20) | Right-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | |
| — | Michael Bracewell | New Zealand | (1991-02-14) 14 February 1991 (age 34) | Left-handed | Right-arm off break | Overseas player |
| — | Jordan Thompson | England | (1996-10-09) 9 October 1996 (age 28) | Left-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | |
| Wicket-keepers |||||||
| Pace bowlers |||||||
| 22 | Jofra Archer | England | (1995-04-01) 1 April 1995 (age 29) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | Centrally contracted player |
| 32 | Craig Overton | England | (1994-04-10) 10 April 1994 (age 30) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | |
| 34 | Chris Jordan | England | (1988-10-04) 4 October 1988 (age 36) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | |
| 56 | Tymal Mills | England | (1992-08-12) 12 August 1992 (age 32) | Right-handed | Left-arm fast | |
| — | Reece Topley | England | (1994-02-21) 21 February 1994 (age 31) | Right-handed | Left-arm fast-medium | |
| Spin bowlers |||||||
| 19 | Danny Briggs | England | (1991-04-30) 30 April 1991 (age 33) | Right-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | |

## Seasons
### Women's team

| Season | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Playoff stage | Playoff stage | Ref. |
| Season | Pld | W | L | T | NR | Pts | Pos | Pld | Pos | Ref. |
| 2021 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1st | 1 | 2nd | |
| 2022 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2nd | 2 | 2nd | |
| 2023 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1st | 1 | 1st | |
| 2024 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8th | Did not progress | Did not progress | |

### Men's team

| Season | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Playoff stage | Playoff stage | Ref. |
| Season | Pld | W | L | T | NR | Pts | Pos | Pld | Pos | Ref. |
| 2021 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2nd | 2 | 1st | |
| 2022 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7th | Did not progress | Did not progress | |
| 2023 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3rd | 1 | 3rd | |
| 2024 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3rd | 2 | 2nd | |
Notes
* ↑ Southern Brave women finished top of the group stage and qualified automatically for the final in 2021. They lost the final against Oval Invincibles by 48 runs.
* ↑ Southern Brave women qualified for the eliminator in 2022. They played 2 games, winning the eliminator against Trent Rockets by 2 runs, losing the final against Oval Invincibles by 5 wickets.
* ↑ Southern Brave women finished top of the group stage and qualified automatically for the final in 2023. They won the final against Northern Superchargers by 34 runs.
* ↑ Southern Brave men qualified for the eliminator in 2021. They played 2 games, winning the eliminator against Trent Rockets by 7 wickets, winning the final against Birmingham Phoenix by 32 runs.
* ↑ Southern Brave men qualified for the eliminator in 2023. They played 1 game, losing the eliminator against Manchester Originals by 7 wickets.
* ↑ Southern Brave men qualified for the eliminator in 2024. They played 2 games, winning the eliminator against Birmingham Phoenix in the Super Five after a tied match, losing the final against Oval Invincibles by 17 runs.