NORTHERN Superchargers have announced that they have retained the trio of Katie Levick, Adil Rashid and David Willey for the first season of The Hundred, with Hollie Armitage becoming the first women’s player to move teams.

Armitage joins Northern Superchargers having been part of the Oval Invincibles squad for what was due to be the initial season of The Hundred this summer.

The talented young batter heads home having represented Northern Diamonds in this year’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

Leg spinner Levick will also be looking to build on a successful year for Northern Diamonds, which saw her take three wickets in the final of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

Discussing joining Northern Superchargers, who will play their home games at Headingley, Armitage said: “I love being up North - there’s no better place to be playing cricket and I can’t wait to get started.

“There’s been a lot of publicity around The Hundred, and I think it will be great - both on and off the field. I expect the competition to be central to women’s cricket really taking off in this country.

“In terms of the format, there will be tactics which remain the same as T20 and some new innovations as well.”

Talking about re-signing, Levick said: “With the women’s competition set-up, the power has gone to the players in a sense, and we got the option to stay on.

“The Superchargers were my first-choice last year, so it was a no-brainer for me to take up that option again. To get that secured really early on is great.

“I was excited for the first competition this summer just gone, and it was only a global pandemic which derailed it. I can’t wait for next year. It will be a fantastic spectacle for everyone.

“We had the makings of a really good team with the Superchargers last year, and hopefully we carry as many players over as possible because we’ll have a great chance of success.”

England internationals Rashid and Willey were selected as local icons before the first men’s player draft, which took place a year ago, and Northern Superchargers have come to an agreement to keep them both at Headingley.

The pair, who have 232 white-ball England caps between them, will join Ben Stokes in the men’s squad for the 2021 season.

Rashid said: “I’m really pleased to be staying with the team. We were all sad that The Hundred couldn’t take place this year but that was beyond anyone’s control.

“With myself, Ben and David already confirmed, we’re looking to build a really strong side for 2021 and hopefully we can have a successful first season.”

Willey added: “I’ve loved spending the past five years playing in Yorkshire and it’s exciting to be taking part in a new competition at my home ground.

“I’ve really enjoyed playing in white-ball tournaments both here and around the world and I’m looking forward to testing myself in The Hundred.

“Rash and I were delighted to be chosen as local icons last year and it means a lot that the side have continued to show faith in us.”

The news follows the announcement that England stars Stokes and Lauren Winfield-Hill have been retained from the initial Northern Superchargers’ men’s and women’s squads respectively.