We are thrilled to announce that legendary Sharks, Luke Wright, Danny Briggs and Ravi Bopara have been shortlisted to become the first-ever inductees into the T20 Hall of Fame. Briggs, who rejoins Sussex this summer for the Blast, is the competitions leading wicket taker of the domestic men’s T20 with an outstanding 268 wickets. Imperious with the ball in hand, similarly ruthless with the bat is Luke Wright. The powerful batter has the fourth most runs in the history of the men’s domestic T20 competition with 5,026 at 32.8, and of course was a part of the famous 2009 title win with the Sharks. Ravi Bopara, one of only two players to feature inside the all-time top-10 for both wicket-takers and runscorers in the men’s competition, has also made the six-man shortlist. He made 51 T20 appearances for the Sharks, scoring over 1,000 runs and taking 29 wickets. We congratulate all three players on their deserved nominations, with the ECB's press release available to read below. PRESS RELEASE |
The ECB has today launched the T20 Hall of Fame presented by Vitality to celebrate the icons of domestic T20 cricket in England and Wales. The T20 Hall of Fame presented by Vitality will recognise the men and women whose performances and impact in ECB domestic T20 cricket competitions have been exceptional both on and off the field. As part of the launch, six men and six women, have today been shortlisted to become the first-ever inductees. - Men’s shortlisted players: Ravi Bopara, Danny Briggs, Joe Denly, Samit Patel, James Vince, Luke Wright.
- Women’s shortlisted players: Charlotte Edwards, Kirstie Gordon, Heather Knight, Katie Levick, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
An independent expert panel – comprising former players, commentators and journalists – will select the first two men, and two women, from the shortlisted names to be inducted. Fans will also get the opportunity to have their say via a Public Vote, which will be hosted on ECB channels, and which will form a weighted element of the final decision‑making process. The inaugural inductees will be revealed on 15 May, ahead of the opening night of the 2026 Vitality Blast on Friday 22 May. Samit Patel, who has played in every season of the Vitality Blast men's competition since its inception in 2003, said: “To be shortlisted for the T20 Hall of Fame is something that I’m hugely proud of especially alongside some great names. It means a lot to be recognised for what I’ve tried to give to the domestic game over so many years. To be one of the first players inducted would be an incredible honour and something I’d feel very privileged to be part of.” Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who is a three-time domestic T20 winner and the leading runscorer since the KSL began in 2016, said: "I was absolutely delighted when I found out and I told my family straight away. To be shortlisted alongside great players is an honour and it would be amazing to be inducted into the Hall of Fame - it's a big deal! It's the first time I have been nominated for anything like this so hopefully I can be one of the inducted players. I'm incredibly proud." The T20 Hall of Fame presented by Vitality will become an annual celebration, recognising those people whose performances, leadership and influence have left a lasting legacy on the domestic game. Players, coaches and administrators from across the major domestic T20 competitions in England and Wales are eligible for consideration. 2026 short-listed player bios: Women - Charlotte Edwards: Captain of 2016 Kia Super League winners Southern Vipers and led them to final in 2017 before her retirement; Two-time coach of title-winning Vipers in Charlotte Edwards Cup (2022 & 2023); the previous domestic T20 competition was named after her.
- Kirstie Gordon: Second most wickets in women’s domestic T20s during qualifying period - 75 wickets at an average 16.6; Captained Blaze to 2024 CEC title; Two-time leading wicket-taker in a season – (2018 KSL & 2024 CEC), Three times top-five wicket-taker in a season – 2018 (first), 2024 (first), 2025 (fourth).
- Heather Knight: Two-time KSL winning captain with Western Storm; Player of the Match in 2019 final with an unbeaten 78 from 53 balls; Fourth most domestic T20 runs during qualifying period - 1,387 runs at 36.5; Four times a top-five runscorer in a season – 2016 (third), 2017 (fifth), 2018 (second), 2019 (third).
- Katie Levick: Most wickets in women’s domestic T20 cricket during qualifying period - 85 at 17.2; 2022 Charlotte Edwards Cup leading wicket-taker; Three time a top-five wicket taker in a season - 2021 (fifth), 2022 (first), 2023 (fourth).
- Nat Sciver-Brunt: KSL-winning captain in 2018 when she scored the third most runs in the competition that season; 11th most domestic T20 runs during qualifying period – 1,211 at 43.25; 38 wickets during qualifying period at 24.7; Most wickets and fifth most runs at 2017 KSL; Three times top-five runscorer in a season – 2016 (fifth), 2017 (fifth), 2018 (third).
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge: Three-time champion - 2025 Vitality Blast winner and Charlotte Edwards Cup (2022 & 2023); Leading runscorer in all T20 competitions during qualifying period – 1,710 at 33.5 (300 runs ahead of next best); Twice most runs in a season (2019 & 2023) and four times in top-five for most runs in a season – 2019 (first), 2022 (third), 2023 (first), 2025 (fourth). 2019 KSL Player of the Series.
Men - Ravi Bopara: Second most men’s domestic T20 matches (236); One of only two players to feature inside the all-time top-10 for both wicket-takers and runscorers in the men’s competition; Third most runs in the men’s competition – 5,290 at 29.1 - and eighth most wickets - 169 wickets at 26.3; 2019 title winner with Essex.
- Danny Briggs: Most wickets in history of the domestic men’s T20 competition - 268 wickets at 20.5; 2010 & 2012 title winner with Hampshire; Four times he has been a top-three wicket taker in a season – 2010 (second), 2011 (second), 2014 (third), 2024 (second); Equal second-most 4+ wickets in a match; Fourth most matches (221).
- Joe Denly: Second most runs in history of the men’s domestic T20 competition – 5,554 at 28.8; Two-time title winner with Kent in 2007 and 2021; Fifth most matches (215); Two-time leading runscorer in a season (2008 and 2017), the first men’s player to score a century and take a hat-trick in the same T20 match – in front of a full house away to Surrey in 2018.
- Samit Patel: Most men’s domestic T20 competition matches (258); One of only two players to feature inside the all-time top-10 for both wicket-takers and runscorers in the men’s competition - second most wickets - 230 at 27.1 - and ninth-most runs - 4,673 runs at 25.8; Two-time title winner with Notts Outlaws in 2020 & 2017; Player of Match in 2017 Vitality Blast final.
- James Vince: Most runs in history of the men’s domestic T20 competition – 6,357 at 35.7; Three-time title winner with Hampshire – 2022 as captain and also 2010 & 2012; Most half-centuries (46) and second-equal most centuries (5); Most catches in history of men’s T20 competition (135); Sixth most matches (210); Three-time most runs in a season (2015, 2022, 2023) and five times he has been in the top-five runscorers in a season (2015, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2025).
- Luke Wright: Fourth most runs in the history of the men’s domestic T20 competition – 5,026 at 32.8; 2009 title winner with Sussex; Third-highest individual score (153* v Essex – 2014); took 43 wickets at an average of 28; Most runs in the 2007 competition and five times was a top-five runscorer in a season - 2007 (first), 2012 (fifth), 2014 (second), 2015 (fourth), 2020 (third); Captain of Sussex’s 2018 final defeat to Worcestershire.
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