England's Cricket World Cup hero Ben Stokes has been picked to represent a Leeds-based team in a new competition.
The all-rounder will be playing for Northern Superchargers next summer in The Hundred - a 100-ball cricket tournament that will get underway in July 2020.
There are eight men's teams - based in Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff, London (two teams), Manchester, Nottingham and Southampton - and they were all given the chance to pick at least one England Test cricketer within their catchment area in the first round of the draft.
The Northern Superchargers, who will play at Emerald Headingley and represent Yorkshire and Durham, could have picked England Test skipper Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, but they opted for Stokes.
Root has been picked by Nottingham's Trent Rockets instead and Bairstow has joined Welsh Fire in Cardiff.
Ben Stokes said: “It’s great to be coming back to Leeds and playing at Emerald Headingley in The Hundred.
"Playing in front of the Headingley crowd is always an unbelievable experience and it’s brilliant to be part of this new format.
"It’s fair to say it’s been quite a summer, so The Hundred is coming at the perfect time to give me another great challenge.”
During his last appearance at Headingley, Stokes helped England to a remarkable victory over Australia in The Ashes, with an unforgettable 135 not out.
That match-winning innings came a month after his heroics against New Zealand at Lord's guided England to their first Cricket World Cup win.
He will be joined by England teammates Adil Rashid and David Willey at the Northern Superchargers, who will be led by former Australia coach and cricketer Darren Lehmann.
There will also be eight women’s teams in the tournament and they have all picked players in the first round of the draft. Each side was allowed two of the centrally contracted England Women cricketers.
The Northern Superchargers picked Lauren Winfield and Linsey Smith.
Winfield said: "Women’s cricket has been going from strength to strength over the last few years and I’m delighted to be a part of the next chapter with Northern Superchargers.
"The Hundred means new teams, new kit, new team-mates, it’s all very exciting for everyone involved and I can’t wait to get out on the field next year and help contribute to the team’s success.”
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