Aaron Finch signs up for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred

Finch, who played for Yorkshire in 2014 and 2015, had been due to feature for the Emerald Headingley-based side last year only for the tournament’s launch to be postponed due to the pandemic.

The 34-year-old batsman is one of three overseas stars retained by the squad coached by Yorkshire legend Darren Lehmann, along with Australian batsman Chris Lynn and the Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Middlesex wicketkeeper John Simpson and Durham fast bowler Brydon Carse have also been retained.

The Northern Superchargers’ women’s team, coached by former England off-spinner Danielle Hazell, continues to take shape with England bowlers Beth Langston and Linsey Smith joining their squad.

Although the men’s retention window has now shut, the women’s teams can continue to sign players until June.

The Northern Superchargers men had previously retained the England all-rounder Ben Stokes along with Yorkshire’s Adil Rashid, David Willey, Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

Thirty-five places will still be up for grabs in the men’s player draft on February 23, when Lehmann’s Superchargers will have five slots to fill and when further women’s signings are set to be announced.

Dates for the competition - which features eight new men’s and women’s teams - have yet to be confirmed, but it will be played at the same time as the 50-over Royal London Cup.

Finch, who has just had a nightmare time of it in the Australian Big Bash, scoring 179 runs in 13 innings and complaining that he is desperate for a break after time spent in Covid bubbles, said: “I loved my time as a player at Yorkshire and I’m really looking forward to getting back up there and hopefully putting on a show.

“We have a batting line-up that can do some damage and with some smart additions at the draft we should have a very strong squad.”

Linsey Smith, the left-arm spinner, said: “I’m delighted to be confirmed as a Northern Superchargers player.

“We have already got the core of the Northern Diamonds squad that reached the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final last summer, which gives me a lot of confidence that we can make our mark on the first season of The Hundred.”

The list of retained men’s players includes the former Yorkshire overseas stars Kane Williamson and Glenn Maxwell, who have recommitted to Birmingham Phoenix and London Spirit respectively.

Full list of retained players announced on Wednesday by the ECB:

Birmingham Phoenix: Shaheen Afridi, Thea Brookes, Chris Cooke, Gwen Davies, Liam Livingstone, Isabelle Wong, Kane Williamson.

London Spirit: Charlie Dean, Mason Crane, Freya Davies, Joe Denly, Hannah Jones, Glenn Maxwell, Sophie Munro, Roelof Van Der Merwe, Mark Wood.

Manchester Originals: Georgie Boyce, Natalie Brown, Ellie Threlkeld, Alex Hartley, Emma Lamb, Wayne Madsen, Matt Parkinson.

Northern Superchargers: Aaron Finch, Beth Langston, Brydon Carse, Chris Lynn, John Simpson, Linsey Smith, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Oval Invincibles: Sam Billings, Sarah Bryce, Alice Capsey, Laurie Evans, Jo Gardner, Will Jacks, Sandeep Lamichhane, Dane Van Niekerk.

Southern Brave: Amelia Kerr, Fi Morris, Craig Overton, Andre Russell, Marcus Stoinis, Ross Whiteley.

Trent Rockets: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Cox, Lewis Gregory, Nancy Harman, Lucy Higham, D’Arcy Short, Luke Wood, Luke Wright.

Welsh Fire: Qais Ahmad, Amy Gordon, Ryan Higgins, David Payne, Liam Plunkett

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