Renamed Super Giants retain Buttler and Ecclestone

Manchester Originals have been renamed Manchester Super Giants and have retained England internationals Jos Buttler and Sophie Ecclestone for the 2026 Hundred season.

Buttler and Ecclestone, ranked fourth in T20 internationals for men’s batting and women’s bowling respectively, are retained alongside Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad and former South Africa batter Heinrich Klaasen.

They are joined by former Australia captain Meg Lanning, India’s World Cup winner Smriti Mandhana and England spinner Liam Dawson.

The franchise’s name change follows RPSG Group purchasing a 70% stake in the side, with the organisation already owning Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League and Durban’s Super Giants in South Africa’s SA20.

Under their previous name, Manchester were unable to secure a Hundred title in their first five seasons, although the men’s side were losing finalists in 2022 and 2023.

Buttler, the former England white-ball captain, and Ecclestone have played their entire Hundred careers with the Manchester franchise.

Lanning signs after playing the last two seasons at Oval Invincibles and London Spirit, while Dawson spent the last four years at Spirit after starting his Hundred career at Southern Brave.

Mandhana spent 2021 to 2024 at Brave, winning the tournament in 2023, but did not play in the tournament last year.