Birmingham Phoenix are a professional cricket franchise based in Birmingham, England, that competes in The Hundred. The team represents the Birmingham region, with its men’s and women’s sides playing their home matches at Edgbaston Cricket Ground. The franchise made its debut in 2021, when The Hundred held its inaugural season, and both teams made an immediate impact by reaching the knockout stages.
The men’s team finished as runners-up in the first season, losing the final to Southern Brave, while the women’s side reached the Eliminator. However, neither team has won a Hundred championship so far. The men’s team reached the knockout stage again in 2024, but both sides have struggled to maintain consistent results in recent seasons. In 2026, the men finished eighth and the women finished seventh.
Phoenix underwent an ownership change ahead of the 2026 season, following the arrival of investment firm Knighthead Capital Management and footballer Jude Bellingham’s minority investment. The franchise continues to represent Birmingham in the competition, with its home ground and connection to Warwickshire County Cricket Club remaining central to its identity.
What Is Birmingham Phoenix?
Phoenix are one of the eight original franchises created for The Hundred, England and Wales’ 100-ball cricket competition. The tournament features separate men’s and women’s competitions, with each franchise fielding a team in both categories.
The franchise represents Birmingham and the surrounding region, with its home matches played at Edgbaston. Warwickshire County Cricket Club is the host club and a major stakeholder in the team, while Knighthead Capital Management became its strategic investment partner in 2025.
Phoenix have featured several prominent players since their launch, including Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine and Amy Jones. Despite some strong seasons, the franchise is still looking for its first men’s or women’s Hundred title.
Birmingham Phoenix History
Phoenix began competing in 2021, when The Hundred introduced its first season. Both teams enjoyed promising campaigns, with the men finishing first in the league stage before losing the final and the women reaching the Eliminator.
The men’s side continued to compete for playoff places in the following seasons. It finished fourth in 2022, sixth in 2023 and third in 2024, although the 2024 campaign ended in the Eliminator after a tied match against Southern Brave was decided in a Super Five. The team then finished fifth in 2025 before dropping to eighth in 2026.
The women’s side finished third in the inaugural season but did not reach another knockout match in the next five editions through 2026. The team finished fourth in 2022, eighth in 2023, seventh in both 2024 and 2025, and seventh again in 2026.
Birmingham Phoenix Season-by-Season Results
The following table shows the league-stage positions of both Phoenix teams from 2021 to 2026.
| Season | Men’s position | Women’s position |
| 2021 | 2nd overall | 3rd overall |
| 2022 | 4th | 4th |
| 2023 | 6th | 8th |
| 2024 | 3rd overall | 7th |
| 2025 | 5th | 7th |
| 2026 | 8th | 7th |
The Hundred 2021: Men’s Team Reaches the Final
Phoenix enjoyed an impressive first season in 2021. The men’s team topped the league table and qualified directly for the final at Lord’s, where they faced Southern Brave on August 21.
Southern Brave scored 168/5 in their 100 balls, with Paul Stirling making 61 from 36 balls and Ross Whiteley adding an unbeaten 44 from 19 deliveries. Phoenix managed 136/5 in reply and lost by 32 runs, despite Liam Livingstone’s explosive 46 from 19 balls.
The defeat left Birmingham as the inaugural men’s runners-up. Livingstone was one of the team’s standout players throughout the competition, while the men’s side’s league-stage performance established it as an early contender.
The women’s team also reached the knockout stage in 2021. After finishing third in the group stage, Phoenix faced the Oval Invincibles in the Eliminator but lost by 20 runs, ending their campaign in third place.
The Hundred 2022: Both Teams Finish Fourth
Phoenix’s men’s and women’s teams both finished fourth in the 2022 league stage. Neither side advanced to the finals, making it a season of missed opportunities after their promising debut campaigns.
The men’s team won five of its eight matches, while the women won three of six. Both teams remained competitive, but their league positions were not enough to secure a place in the knockout rounds.
The Hundred 2023: A Difficult Season for Both Teams
The 2023 season was particularly challenging for Phoenix’s women’s side, which finished eighth after failing to win a match. One of its eight games ended without a result, leaving the team with one point.
The men’s team finished sixth, winning two matches and losing four, with two further games ending without a result. Neither team qualified for the finals, and both needed better consistency in the following season.
The Hundred 2024: Men’s Team Returns to the Knockouts
Phoenix’s men’s team improved in 2024, finishing third in the league stage with six wins from eight matches. They reached the Eliminator against Southern Brave but could not progress to the final after the match was tied and decided in a Super Five.
The women’s team finished seventh, with three wins and four defeats from eight matches, while one game ended without a result. They missed the finals for a third consecutive season.
The Hundred 2025: Men’s Side Finishes Fifth
Phoenix’s men’s team finished fifth in 2025, winning three of its eight league matches and missing out on the finals. The women’s side finished seventh after winning two matches and losing six.
Neither team reached the knockout stage, extending the franchise’s wait for a Hundred title.
The Hundred 2026: Men Finish Eighth and Women Seventh
The 2026 season was disappointing for Phoenix. The men’s side finished eighth after winning just one of its eight matches, prompting the franchise to part company with head coach Shane Bond in October. The club confirmed that the process of appointing a successor was under way.
The women’s side finished seventh but ended its campaign with a home victory against MI London on August 12. MI London scored 120/6, and Phoenix chased the target with five wickets remaining. Ellyse Perry led the chase with an unbeaten 62 from 39 balls, giving the team a positive finish to a difficult season.
Birmingham Phoenix Owners
Phoenix are owned by Warwickshire County Cricket Club, Knighthead Capital Management and Jude Bellingham. The franchise’s ownership changed ahead of the 2026 season after the England and Wales Cricket Board completed deals with strategic investors for teams competing in The Hundred.
Knighthead acquired a 49% stake in Phoenix in 2025. In April 2026, footballer Jude Bellingham purchased a 1.2% minority stake, with the investment intended to support community engagement and opportunities for young people. Warwickshire remains the majority stakeholder.
Bellingham’s involvement connects the franchise with another major sporting figure from the Birmingham area. His stated focus includes helping young people gain access to sport and supporting community projects.
Birmingham Phoenix Captain and Coaches
Phoenix have separate captains and coaching staff for their men’s and women’s teams. For the 2026 season, Donovan Ferreira captained the men, while Ellyse Perry led the women’s team. Shane Bond coached the men, and Ali Maiden coached the women.
Following the men’s team’s eighth-place finish in 2026, the franchise parted company with Bond on October 6. The club said it was beginning the process of appointing a successor, so a replacement should not be assumed until officially announced.
| Role | Details |
| Host club | Warwickshire County Cricket Club |
| Men’s captain in 2026 | Donovan Ferreira |
| Women’s captain in 2026 | Ellyse Perry |
| Men’s head coach during 2026 | Shane Bond |
| Women’s head coach in 2026 | Ali Maiden |
| Home ground | Edgbaston Cricket Ground |
Birmingham Phoenix Home Ground
Phoenix play their home matches at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club. The venue hosts both the men’s and women’s teams during The Hundred season.
Edgbaston is one of England’s best-known cricket grounds and regularly hosts international and domestic matches. It provides Phoenix with a familiar home setting and allows supporters to watch both competitions at the same venue.
Key Players in Birmingham Phoenix History
Liam Livingstone
Liam Livingstone was one of Phoenix’s leading men’s players during the early seasons. He scored 348 runs in the inaugural 2021 competition and made 46 from just 19 balls in the final against Southern Brave. His aggressive batting made him one of the franchise’s most recognisable players.
Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali captained Phoenix’s men’s team in the early seasons and helped establish the franchise in The Hundred. His experience as an international all-rounder made him an important figure during the team’s initial campaigns.
Ellyse Perry
Ellyse Perry has been one of the prominent international players associated with Phoenix Women. During the 2026 season, she captained the side and scored an unbeaten 62 from 39 balls in the team’s final match against MI London.
Amy Jones
Amy Jones was Phoenix Women’s captain during the inaugural 2021 season. She helped lead the team to the Eliminator, where they finished third overall after losing to Oval Invincibles.
Sophie Devine
New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine has also represented Phoenix Women. Her international experience and ability to contribute with both bat and ball made her a valuable addition during the franchise’s early seasons.
Birmingham Phoenix Records and Achievements
Phoenix have reached the final once in the men’s competition and the women’s Eliminator once. The men’s team remains the franchise’s closest contender for a championship, having finished as runners-up in the inaugural season.
| Record or achievement | Details |
| First season | 2021 |
| Best men’s result | Runners-up in 2021 |
| Best women’s result | Third place in 2021 |
| Men’s final appearance | 2021 |
| Women’s knockout appearances | 2021 |
| Men’s league-stage position in 2021 | 1st |
| Best men’s league-stage position since 2021 | 1st in 2021 |
| Men’s titles | 0 |
| Women’s titles | 0 |
| Latest men’s position | 8th in 2026 |
| Latest women’s position | 7th in 2026 |
The franchise’s strongest season remains its debut campaign, when both teams qualified for the knockout stage. Since then, the men’s side has had another playoff appearance in 2024, while the women’s side has not returned to the finals since 2021.
Birmingham Phoenix at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Birmingham Phoenix |
| Competition | The Hundred |
| Founded | 2019 |
| First season | 2021 |
| Men’s team | Birmingham Phoenix Men |
| Women’s team | Birmingham Phoenix Women |
| Host club | Warwickshire County Cricket Club |
| Investors | Warwickshire, Knighthead Capital Management and Jude Bellingham |
| Home ground | Edgbaston Cricket Ground |
| Men’s captain in 2026 | Donovan Ferreira |
| Women’s captain in 2026 | Ellyse Perry |
| Men’s titles | 0 |
| Women’s titles | 0 |
| Best men’s result | Runners-up in 2021 |
| Best women’s result | Third place in 2021 |
| Men’s position in 2026 | 8th |
| Women’s position in 2026 | 7th |
FAQs
Q. When did Phoenix join The Hundred?
A. Phoenix began competing in 2021.
Q. Have Phoenix won The Hundred?
A. Neither the men’s nor the women’s team has won the competition.
Q. Where do Phoenix play their home matches?
A. Both teams play at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham.
Q. How did Phoenix perform in 2026?
A. The men’s team finished eighth, while the women’s team finished seventh.
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