New Zealand have had a chaotic build-up to the home series against India. They were shellacked 3-0 on the other side of the Tasman Sea in the Tests and are now without several of their first-choice seamers - including Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry - for the five-match T20I series against Virat Kohli's men.

The margins of defeat in Australia - 296 runs, 247 runs, and 279 runs - were a cause for concern. And the chaos had swelled to a crescendo when senior pro Tim Southee, who was in line to lead New Zealand at the SCG in the absence of the ill Kane Williamson, was asked sit out of the game in order to manage his heavy workload. Southee had delivered nearly 100 overs in the first two Tests and a "fresh" Henry was called into the XI.

Henry Nicholls and Mitchell Santner also fell ill, and from playing a Super Smash T20 game on New Year's day, wicketkeeper-batsman Glenn Phillips dashed across the ditch to Sydney for a Test debut on January 3. In the absence of Williamson and Southee, Tom Latham stood in as captain, but none of these could change New Zealand's fortunes.

ALSO READ: India T20s a chance to test NZ's depth - Ross Taylor

New year, new format, and Southee has moved on from that Sydney snub. Although Southee said that he hadn't taken it "personally", he did concede that it had hurt him and has now set his focus on white-ball cricket.

"They [the team management] make decisions based on what they think is best for the team," Southee said at a media conference two days off from the first T20I against India. "Obviously, you're going to agree to disagree and that's just the nature of sport. It's disappointing and you're gutted every time you do miss out, it hurts. It's a dream to play for New Zealand, but you have to respect the decisions and try and help out and give back to the teams in ways you can even though you're not playing.

"We had a big chunk of Test cricket, the guys in Australia were reasonably experienced, so I'm sure they've had tough tours before and they'll bounce back and for a long period of time they've been able to get through those ups and downs. It's about making the adjustment. What has gone is gone, and as I said, it was very disappointing and the guys have learnt from it. We're going to look forward to the Indian series and a big way to finish the home summer."

Southee played just one ODI against India in the last home summer - largely because he was bowling just straight lines - and later led an inexperienced attack in the T20I series, which New Zealand won 2-1. More recently, Southee had filled in for Williamson as captain and almost led New Zealand to a T20I series victory at home against England - the decider ended in a tie and England won the Super Over.

Williamson is fit and will take back captaincy, but Southee will be in charge of a rather green bowling attack. "It's different and I enjoy thinking about the game," Southee said of captaincy. "It makes you think outside of what you want to do. You're always thinking more than what you are when you're not [captain]. But I also try to help Kane out as well. Ross is very good, having already captained the side in the past when Kane wasn't there. It's a different challenge when you're sort of the captain but yes it's something that I've enjoyed. Kane has done a great job, so just trying to help him out."

Southee also reckoned that variations could prove handy on the easy-paced, hit-through-the line tracks in New Zealand. While New Zealand's attack might not have enough T20I experience, they can fall back on domestic experience in the form of Hamish Bennett and Blair Tickner. Both seamers have excelled in the Super Smash in the past few years and Bennett is now set to make his T20I debut on Friday, having bowled Wellington Firebirds to the domestic T20 title last week. Tickner's strength is to hit hard lengths at speeds upwards of 140kph, while Bennett, who once was a tearaway, now has a proper offbreak and the knuckle ball in his repertoire.

"Yeah [it's about variations]," Southee said. "I guess you need to stay a step ahead especially on our grounds here, which are pretty good surfaces and surfaces and small grounds. It's a great challenge for us bowlers, but it's been a good hit out today."

Sri Lanka 370 for 5 (Mathews 129*, Mendis 80, Nyauchi 3-56) lead Zimbabwe 358 (Ervine 85, Embuldeniya 5-114) by 12 runs

For the fifth time in as many sessions, Sri Lanka lost just one wicket and made steady progress in Harare. Through the course of the fourth morning, Angelo Mathews also completed a hard-fought, tenth Test ton, Dhananjaya de Silva made a fifty, and then Sri Lanka edged into the lead. With Niroshan Dickwella now settled at the crease after de Silva's dismissal, Sri Lanka will have their sights set on a hefty lead. The most likely route to a result in what has been a slow-burning Test would be for Sri Lanka to bat just once, and bowl Zimbabwe out cheaply in the third innings. The surface, though, has not shown any serious signs of wear yet.

Yet again, debutant Victor Nyauchi was Zimbabwe's best bowler. He not only claimed the wicket of de Silva, who holed out trying to stroke him aerially down the ground but also threatened Mathews' outside edge repeatedly, with balls that were angled in, and straightening off the seam. His control was excellent again - he has now bowled 29 overs in the innings and conceded only 56 runs. Senior seamer Kyle Jarvis delivered an earnest spell as well, but the quicks had little support from the spinners, who were only occasionally able to trouble the batsmen.

Early in the day, de Silva had hogged the strike and swiftly moved past 50, while Mathews laboured in sight of his century, having been on 92 overnight. When Mathews was on 96, there was a good shout for lbw, when he shouldered arms to a Donald Tiripano ball that might just have shaved the top of off stump. Next over, when Mathews was on 98, Jarvis hit him on the helmet with a bouncer and thought he had had the batsman caught off his glove when the umpire appeared to be raising his arm. However, it turned out the umpire was just signalling a bouncer.

Eventually, Mathews went to triple figures off the 272nd ball he faced, turning Jarvis into the legside for a single. He had hit seven fours and two sixes in his innings, with only one of those boundaries coming off a seam bowler.

De Silva was dismissed trying to raise the tempo - he had struck the previous ball for four through the covers - but his replacement Dickwella made sure he batted securely through the rest of the session, rather than himself attempting to hit out. Mathews could have been out on 108 as well, when he offered a thick edge to the keeper, who failed to hold on to a very tough chance, off the bowling of Ainsley Ndlovu.

Jofra Archer has made a strong case for a recall to England's Test side with an eye-catching performance in the nets.

Archer, who has missed the previous two Tests due to an elbow injury, generated impressive pace during a seven-over spell in Johannesburg on Wednesday. Jos Buttler, one of the unfortunate batsman who had to face him, was hit on the body on a couple of occasions and edged a couple of other deliveries.

ALSO READ: Archer deserves support, not suspicion

At a ground which traditionally provides some encouragement for pace bowling - it's 6,000 feet above sea level meaning the ball tends to carry further (off the pitch and the bat) and, it seems, faster - England will be keen to include Archer against a South Africa team who looked uncomfortable against Mark Wood's pace in Port Elizabeth. In a perfect world, England would probably like to include both Wood and Archer.

It's far from certain that either of them will be fit at this stage, though. Archer will be required to prove that he has come through Wednesday's spell without any repercussions in training on Thursday, while Wood - and the other bowlers who played in Port Elizabeth - was given an extra day off on Wednesday. Wood, too, will need to show his match fitness in training on Thursday. Somewhat ominously, given his fitness record, he was described as "sore" by the England management after his exertions in the third Test.

If both are deemed fully fit, the England management will face a tough decision over who to leave out. One option will be to revert to a five-man seam attack - as they did in the final Test in New Zealand and the first Test of this tour - meaning no place for the offspin of Dom Bess. That would be tough on Bess, who claimed a maiden five-wicket haul in Port Elizabeth, and it may be he would also enjoy the extra bounce in this surface. England may feel that Joe Root, who claimed four wickets with his own offspin in the second innings in Port Elizabeth, is capable of supplying the spin they will require.

The other options is to leave out one of Sam Curran or Stuart Broad. Broad claimed 6 for 17 in the second innings here four years ago, however, and would appear to have the perfect game for the ground, while Curran continues to contribute with bat and ball - of England bowlers, only Broad (with 12) has taken more than his nine wickets in the series while he made a brisk 44 in Port Elizabeth - and England appreciate the variety his left-arm angle provides.

At this stand, though, it seems more likely Archer will make a straight swap with Wood. The last time Wood played back-to-back Tests was in July 2017, when he finished with figures of 0 for 129 from 35 overs in the second match. He is, however, a better bowler now and, since he increased his run-up towards the end of 2018, puts less stress through his body in delivery.

"Historically, it's a pitch which has good carry and pace and generally starts softer then quickens up" Graham Thorpe

"Jofra had good rhythm and bowled nice and quick today," Graham Thorpe, one of England's assistant coaches, told TalkSPORT. "That's where we want Jof to be. He looks good, but he will have to come in again tomorrow and back it up.

"The elbow problem has been a big issue for him. You can't force that; you have to wait for the player to be confident with it.

"Mark Wood hasn't played back-to-back Test matches for a while, but he bowled exceptionally well for us in Port Elizabeth. He bowled at high speeds of 90mph plus and gave us an X-factor. We'll have to see how he is and I'm sure Woody will be really honest with us.

"Historically, it's a pitch which has good carry and pace and generally starts softer then quickens up. It has that carry which bowlers, batters and spinners alike enjoy.

"It would be tough if Bess didn't play this Test. He has done himself no harm, though, in the way he has come into the set-up and the way he's bowled. He's progressed from the last time I saw him about six months ago and when you perform it gives you confidence. So we won't rush straight into a decision, it'll be nice to have all those options on the table."

It doesn't appear there will be much discussion over Buttler's place. He hasn't been at his best with the bat or the gloves in this series - he is averaging 17.40 - and struggled in the nets on Wednesday. He lost his middle stump to Chris Woakes - who is bowling nicely but seems to have little prospect of forcing his way into the side at present - and was hurried by Archer. Jonny Bairstow, who batted after him in the nets, looked more comfortable.

But England have invested a lot of time in Buttler and they are not set to abandon him just yet. He may well need a good Test here, though, with talk of a recall for Ben Foakes for the Sri Lanka tour growing.

"I am really confident that Jos will have a good Test match here," Thorpe said. "The most important thing is getting the mindset right of all our players. There are guys who have been performing well and guys who might feel individually that they want to do more. Jos might have an edge of frustration but I can see the way he's working. For me, he looks in good form and it's a matter of time before he gets a score for us."

Most of the team involved in the third Test took the day off on Wednesday. All will train on Thursday, with the match starting on Friday.

London race will also incorporate the GB trial for the World Half Marathon Championships

Mo Farah may have decided to target the track at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games but he will first return to the roads to defend his title at The Vitality Big Half, where Ethiopia’s distance running great Kenenisa Bekele will be among his rivals.

Britain’s four-time Olympic champion Farah confirmed in November that he would be aiming to defend his 10,000m title in Japan, rather than race the marathon at the Games.

He had previously announced his decision to switch from track athletics to road racing after claiming his sixth world title in London in 2017.

On Wednesday organisers announced that The Vitality Big Half, which takes place in London on March 1, will form part of Farah’s preparations for the Games.

“I am really looking forward to coming back to The Vitality Big Half and kicking off my 2020 season,” said Farah, who has won the past two editions of the race.

“Everyone knows how much I enjoy racing in London. It’s my home city and it always gives me a buzz to come back and race here.”

Multiple Olympic and world champion Bekele, the world record-holder in the 5000m and 10,000m, will make his Big Half debut as he works toward the Virgin Money London Marathon, where he will go head-to-head with Kenya’s world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge.

“This will be my first time racing at The Vitality Big Half and it will be a good test for me as I prepare for the Virgin Money London Marathon,” said Bekele, who has said that breaking the world marathon record in London in April would be a “dream”.

Farah and Bekele headline a strong Big Half elite men’s field that also includes Kenyan Marius Kipserem, the reigning Rotterdam Marathon champion who is also preparing for the London Marathon.

For the third year running, The Vitality Big Half will also incorporate the British Athletics Half Marathon Championships and, for the first time, it will also be the GB trial race for the World Half Marathon Championships in Poland on March 29.

This has attracted a strong male domestic field which is made up of five of the six fastest men over the half-marathon distance in the UK last year: Farah, Dewi Griffiths, Jake Smith, Ollie Lockley and Chris Thompson.

Rio 2016 Olympian Ross Millington and former 10,000m European Championships silver medallist Andy Vernon are also on the start list.

In the women’s race, the leading contenders are Hayley Carruthers, who was fourth at The Vitality Big Half last year, plus Eleanor Davis, Clara Evans, Tish Jones and Stephanie Jones.

With the January transfer window open, several top players are being linked with moves this month or for next summer. We're profiling some of the best, including a breakdown of the player's strengths and weaknesses, the latest reporting on his transfer status and a round-up of interested teams, with the likelihood of a move and where the best fit might be.

Next up, a defender from Napoli who has every top club in Europe chasing his signature ...

KALIDOU KOULIBALY

Age: 28
Position: Defender
National team: Senegal
Previous clubs: Metz, Genk
Contract expiry: 2023
Career appearances: 389
Goals: 16

SCOUTING REPORT

Koulibaly uses his incredible physical power to dominate opponents in the air and on the ground. The 6-foot-2 defender isn't all about strength though and his passing has improved in recent years to become confident on the ball, while he's also quick on his feet. Maurizio Sarri certainly played a part in his development at Napoli, in terms of positioning and playing out from the back, and he has matured into one of the best centre-backs around.

At 28, he's reaching the peak of his powers and has also gained plenty of plaudits for how he has spoken out against racism in Italy. Koulibaly is certainly going to make the club a massive profit, given they signed him from Genk for around €10m in 2014, while he is starting to resemble his biggest idol, Lilian Thuram, in terms of style.

"He's [Thuram] the player who inspired me," Koulibaly said in 2014. "He gave me a lot of joy, alongside other stars who won the World Cup in 1998. Thuram was an example on and off the pitch, and I hope to reach his level."

JANUARY MARKET VALUE: €75 million (£70m)

According to Transfermarkt, Koulibaly's value has almost doubled in the last two years. A paltry €40m in December 2017, his performances have ensured a steep upward curve in recent years though Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has even rejected bids in excess of his value. "It's true, we had a €100m bid from the Premier League for Koulibaly, but we're not negotiating his sale," De Laurentiis told Radio Kiss Kiss in summer 2018. "He's a very good person and we've never had problems with him."

SOURCES TELL ESPN FC: Sources said last year that Koulibaly was open to a move to Manchester United, before the club signed Leicester's Harry Maguire in the summer. Still in need of a centre-back, United are reported to have agreed a £64m deal for this summer, according to Italian radio, but sources told ESPN no such deal is in place.

Almost every top team in Europe is looking to strengthen at centre-back, which makes Koulibaly hot property. However, sidelined with a thigh injury suffered early in the loss to Parma, the defender will not be available until the end of the month, which makes a deal unlikely before the summer.

FRONT-RUNNERS

PSG: There is no obvious space for Koulibaly in Thomas Tuchel's starting XI right now with 35-year-old captain Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe and Abdou Diallo on the books. However, beyond this season that could change as Silva is not getting any younger and stalling over a contract extension.

After missing out on Matthijs de Ligt to Juventus last summer and opting for Diallo instead, PSG could identify Kouliably as the man to shape PSG's back line. Though if captain-in-waiting Marquinhos' move into defensive midfield is not permanent, and he returns to the centre of defence, there is little immediate need to spend big on the Napoli man.

Koulibaly could be a good buy, but he is not a priority while Silva remains evergreen -- possibly opening the door to hungrier suitors. -- Jonathan Johnson.

Rating: 5/10

MAN CITY

Pep Guardiola needs a centre-back after Vincent Kompany's departure and missing out on Maguire. City's need may be even more urgent in the summer if, as is expected, Nicolas Otamendi leaves the Etihad Stadium, while there are still question marks over John Stones after a mixed season.

Koulibaly is one of the best defenders in the world and City have watched him in the past but Guardiola also has other targets.

Transfer Rating: 5/10

TOTTENHAM

Jose Mourinho has always liked Koulibaly; he tried to sign him before and could try again this month though the fee and wages (£70m and around £180,000-a-week) could be too much for Tottenham, who are looking to recruit a striker before a defender anyway.

A centre-back is not their priority for Spurs right now, although it should probably be. Mourinho could try his luck again in the summer if nobody else snaps him up, but it seems unlikely that this could happen this month. -- Julien Laurens.

Transfer Rating: 4/10

MAN UNITED

Manchester United are long-term admirers of Koulibaly, having watched him closely for more than two years. Mourinho was very keen when he was boss and he has fans within the current recruitment team, too, but interest has dwindled since the £80m arrival of Maguire in the summer.

Victor Lindelof is not having a good season but has signed a new contact and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has bigger problems to solve than signing another centre-back right now. He desperately needs a striker and a midfielder and the defence is not a priority as things stand, though that could change in the summer.

Transfer Rating: 4/10

OUTSIDE BETS

CHELSEA

Frank Lampard needs defensive reinforcements after allowing both Gary Cahill and David Luiz to leave Stamford Bridge but, with Koulibaly likely to cost in the region of £75m, the Chelsea manager will look at elsewhere due to the need to add reinforcements in all areas following the lifting of the club's worldwide transfer ban. -- Mark Ogden.

Transfer Rating: 3/10

REAL MADRID

Real Madrid made their big move for a centre-back last summer, spending €50m on Eder Militao -- the largest fee they have ever paid for a central defender. The 22-year-old has moved ahead of Nacho to emerge as the alternative to Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane and is viewed as the long-term partner for Varane at the heart of Madrid's defence.

Ramos' situation is interesting. At 33, with a contract that expires in 2021, last year's talk of departure has gone quiet and he is more likely to sign an extension. As such, Koulibaly would represent a significant outlay and Madrid's priorities in 2020 will be strengthening midfield and attack rather than defence. -- Alex Kirkland.

Transfer Rating: 3/10

ARSENAL

The Gunners are looking for a centre-back this month and have been for a while now. New manager Mikel Arteta will want a defender who can be good on the ball as well as good defensively, and is a big fan of Koulibaly but the problem is that he can't afford him.

Koulibaly's £75m fee and wages are too high for Arsenal at the moment, especially if they again fail to qualify for the Champions League next season. They have already spent £72m on winger Nicolas Pepe, so their finances are tied up, while if they can somehow splash out on a defender then RB Leipzig's 21-year-old Dayot Upamecano offers more in terms of long-term potential. -- Julien Laurens.

Transfer Rating: 2/10

LIVERPOOL

Although Koulibaly impressed against Liverpool in the Champions League group stages this season and last, there is no interest in the player at Anfield due to the depth of defensive options at Jurgen Klopp's disposal. With Virgil van Dijk proving to be a model of consistency at centre-back, Klopp believes that Joe Gomez can become the Dutchman's long-term partner, while Joel Matip has also shown his credentials this season. -- Mark Ogden.

Transfer Rating: 1/10

IT WOULD BE FUNNY IF ...

JUVENTUS

After all the speculation about a move away from Italy, imagine if he signed for the champions? However, despite Merih Demiral's ACL tear, Juventus will not be going back into the transfer market for a centre-back this winter.

Although the technical staff were keen to give €75m summer signing De Ligt a break after the Dutchman played more than anticipated in the first half of the season, he is back fit and has resumed his place at the heart of the defence. Captain Giorgio Chiellini will soon be back from the knee injury he sustained back in August and sporting director Fabio Paratici has also keenly underlined the key squad role played by Daniele Rugani over the last five seasons; all of which precludes a Turin move for the expensive Koulibaly. -- James Horncastle.

Transfer Rating: 1/10

... BUT WOULD HE STAY?

NAPOLI

This has actually been the Senegal international's worst season since his first one in Italy when he was still a young centre-back getting to grips with a new league and culture.

Napoli have come under media pressure to fast-track a summer clearout, with the team giving the distinct impression of going stale. However, the club are not allowing it to influence them and feel their best bet of making Europe -- the odds get longer by the day -- comes in recovering and restoring their star players to form. The situation will be reviewed again in June, though if a club makes a bid that Napoli deems acceptable then Koulibaly could move on. -- James Horncastle.

Transfer Rating: 3/10

With the January transfer window open and clubs free to buy and sell players, David Amoyal evaluates the hottest rumours from around the world of football.

Layvin Kurzawa to Arsenal: 50%

With a contract set to expire at the end of June, the France left-back seems intrigued by the opportunity to play in the Premier League next season. Although a move to the Emirates in the summer might be on the cards, it looks unlikely in January as PSG's sporting director, Leonardo, revealed that he has not received any calls from Arsenal regarding Kurzawa yet. Of course the situation could change if the Gunners decide to bring forward the signing of a left-back by a few months, given they have been left short after Kieran Tierney's shoulder injury.

Kalidou Koulibaly to Manchester United in the summer: 35%

Although the Senegal international has shown great loyalty to Napoli in recent years, at 28 and with Napoli unlikely to qualify for next year's Champions League, the time might be right for Koulibaly to move on. In fact, Napoli have been preparing for this possibility, first signing Kostas Manolas in the summer and recently acquiring Amir Rrahmani, who will arrive next summer after finishing the season on loan at Hellas Verona. Manchester United have shown significant interest in Koulibaly in the past and are one of the few clubs willing to meet president Aurelio De Laurentiis' high valuation for the defender.

Luka Jovic to Tottenham: 20%

After Harry Kane's injury, Spurs are in the market for a striker that could fill the England international's shoes in the interim. With a host of players currently being evaluated -- Fernando Llorente, Krzysztof Piatek and Ze Luis -- there's also Real Madrid's Luka Jovic. The Serbian, who joined Los Blancos from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer for €60 million, has struggled to gain a place in Zinedine Zidane's starting XI. However, Real president Florentino Perez seems unwilling to let such a young and talented player leave after just a few months.

Donny van de Beek to Real Madrid: 45%

The Netherlands international has been a target for Real Madrid over the past year but the Spanish giants decided to put their pursuit on hold in hopes of signing Manchester United's Paul Pogba. Now, although Pogba still remains their main objective for the summer, Madrid have reportedly resumed talks with Ajax for the 22-year-old, creative midfielder, who could leave the Eredivisie for €55m -- a sum that Real could decide to pay sooner rather than later in order to beat other suitors, especially from the Premier League.

Rodrigo to Barcelona: 55%

Although Federico Bernardeschi is still on Barcelona's radar, 28-year-old Valencia striker Rodrigo is more likely to be the next addition to the Blaugrana's front line. His agent Jorge Mendes arrived in Spain this week to handle the negotiations, which could see Barcelona send a player in exchange. Should Barca close the deal for Rodrigo, Juventus could look to offer Emre Can instead of Bernardeschi to try to acquire Ivan Rakitic.

Ivan Rakitic to Juventus: 30%

Prior to Sunday's game against Parma, Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici confirmed that he had discussed the Croatia international with Barcelona at the end of the summer transfer window. The two clubs have reportedly resumed talks, with Juventus offering Bernardeschi, who has lost his starting job to Aaron Ramsey, in exchange. That said, it remains to be seen whether Barcelona will agree to the Italian club's financial demands in the deal since Rakitic is six years older and earns significantly higher wages.

Sandro Tonali to Liverpool in the summer: 15%

The talented 19-year-old has more than lived up to the hype in his first season in Serie A, so it isn't surprising to see him linked to top clubs both in Italy and abroad. Although Liverpool are in the mix, they will face some stiff competition from Manchester City -- whose manager, Pep Guardiola, has strong ties to Brescia (Tonali's current team) -- as well as Juventus, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain, who are looking to repeat the Marco Verratti deal by signing Italy's most promising midfielder before he's the finished article.

Suso to Sevilla: 45%

The Spanish winger recently lost his starting place and could net Milan a significant profit since he was signed on a free transfer. Although the Rossoneri held talks with Roma about a potential swap involving Cengiz Under, the capital club are prioritising signing Matteo Politano, even after his proposed exchange for Leonardo Spinazzola collapsed. There could be a return to Spain on the cards for Suso as former Roma sporting director Monchi, who has always held him in high regard, is back at Sevilla.

Everton Soares to Everton: 40%

Carlo Ancelotti's appointment has brought a breath of fresh air to Goodison Park, as the Toffees seem to be bouncing back after a rocky start to the season. The 4-4-2 formation introduced by the Italian manager has pushed Everton to look for new additions on the wings, and one of the names being linked is that of Gremio's Everton Soares. The 23-year-old Brazilian is valued at more than €40m, a sum that could scare the English club off considering they registered record losses last year.

Matias Vecino to Everton: 35%

The Uruguay international was not selected for Inter's recent match against Lecce and will be on his way out once Christian Eriksen completes his transfer from Tottenham to Antonio Conte's side. Although Spurs opted to pass when he was offered in exchange for the Denmark international, Vecino could still end up in the Premier League, where he's been linked to Manchester United and Everton. Ancelotti is in the market for wide players, and Vecino would be a good fit.

Squads for the women's Hundred are starting to take shape after each team announced four new domestic signings on Wednesday.

There is a local flavour to the latest round of signings, with county captains Marie Kelly (Warwickshire) and Naomi Dattani (Middlesex) joining Birmingham Phoenix and London Spirit respectively.

Each new team has now announced the signing of at least eight of their eventual 15 players. The window to complete new signings will remain open until May 30, with the tournament starting on July 22 with Birmingham Phoenix's game against Manchester Originals.

Trent Rockets look set to field a spin-heavy team, with England T20 World Cup squad members Sarah Glenn and Mady Villiers joining Australian allrounder Sophie Molineux. Three of the best young seam-bowling prospects in the country have also been picked up: Issy Wong will play for Birmingham Phoenix, Lauren Bell for Southern Brave, and Tash Farrant will represent Oval Invincibles.

Full squads to date:

Birmingham Phoenix
Sophie Devine, Georgia Elwiss, Ria Fackrell, Kirstie Gordon, Amy Jones, Evelyn Jones, Marie Kelly, Isabelle Wong

London Spirit
Tammy Beaumont, Aylish Cranstone, Naomi Dattani, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Deandra Dottin, Hannah Jones, Heather Knight

Manchester Originals
Georgia Boyce, Kate Cross, Mignon du Preez, Sophie Ecclestone, Alex Hartley, Emma Lamb, Lizelle Lee, Ellie Threlkeld

Northern Superchargers
Alice Davidson-Richards, Georgia Davis, Helen Fenby, Alyssa Healy, Bess Heath, Katie Levick, Linsey Smith, Lauren Winfield

Oval Invincibles
Georgia Adams, Hollie Armitage, Tash Farrant, Rachael Haynes, Laura Marsh, Rhianna Southby, Dane van Niekerk, Fran Wilson

Southern Brave
Suzie Bates, Lauren Bell, Sophia Dunkley, Fi Morris, Paige Scholfield, Anya Shrubsole, Stafanie Taylor, Danni Wyatt

Trent Rockets
Katherine Brunt, Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Glenn, Beth Langston, Sophie Molineux, Natalie Sciver, Elyse Villani, Mady Villiers

Welsh Fire
Lauren Filer, Katie George, Alex Griffiths, Georgia Hennessy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Sophie Luff, Claire Nicholas, Bryony Smith

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