David Warner yesterday became the first big name to pull out of the ECB’s new Hundred competition to concentrate on international cricket.
Warner, signed for the maximum £125,000 contract by Southern Brave in the Hundred draft last October, has told the Southampton-based franchise he will instead make himself available for Australia’s one-day series against Zimbabwe in August.
It is a blow for the ECB, who are determined to keep their new tournament as unaffected as possible by the coronavirus crisis that is set to wipe out at least the bulk of the County Championship season and the Royal London Cup.