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With just two matches left in The Hundred 2025 – the Eliminator and the Grand final – cricket experts have begun sharing their standout performers of the season. Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Dinesh Karthik, and Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent have unveiled their respective Teams of the Tournament, sparking plenty of debate among fans.
The competition now reaches its climax as Trent Rockets gear up to face Northern Superchargers in the Eliminator. The winner of that clash will challenge table-toppers Oval Invincibles in the final showdown.
Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton go with a balanced squad
Former England captains Hussain and Atherton opted for a balanced mix of explosive batters, quality all-rounders, and pace options. Their XI is led by Sam Curran, who has been instrumental with both bat and ball for Oval Invincibles. Jos Buttler was slotted in as wicketkeeper, while Zak Crawley and Jordon Cox made the cut for their consistent batting displays.
Their middle order included the destructive Liam Livingstone and South African power-hitter Donovan Ferreira. In the bowling department, leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed and Rashid Khan added variety alongside a pace trio of Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer, and Sonny Baker.
Hussain & Atherton’s bext XI: Jos Buttler (wk), Zak Crawley, Jordon Cox, Sam Curran (c), Liam Livingstone, Donovan Ferreira, Rehan Ahmed, Rashid Khan, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker.
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Dinesh Karthik and Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent back Harry Brook as skipper
Karthik and Rainford-Brent chose a slightly different approach, handing captaincy to Harry Brook for his aggressive batting and leadership qualities. Their top order featured Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, and Buttler, followed by Cox and Brook in the middle.
Livingstone and Curran once again featured in their lineup, while Rashid was the preferred spinner. In terms of fast bowling, they selected Archer, Tongue, and Australian pacer Riley Meredith, who impressed with his fiery spells.
Karthik & Rainford-Brent’s XI: Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Jordon Cox, Harry Brook (c), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Rashid Khan, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Riley Meredith.
Season’s top performers so far
The selections reflected the standout numbers this season. Oval Invincibles’ Cox leads the run charts with 327 runs at a blistering strike rate of 178.68. Buttler (283), Crawley (280), and Bairstow (248) also featured among the top scorers, while Livingstone contributed 241 runs.
On the bowling front, Tongue’s 14 wickets made him the leading wicket-taker, closely followed by Rashid and Meredith with 12 each. Curran’s all-round impact, with 12 wickets and useful runs (223), ensured his presence in both expert XIs.
As the tournament heads into its final stretch, the spotlight will now shift to whether these star performers can deliver under pressure and lead their teams to silverware.
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