This summer marks the belated beginning to The Hundred, the latest innovation in limited overs cricket. Forget traditional six-ball overs; the ECB have ripped up the rulebook for their new competition with bowlers potentially going off after just five deliveries and a change of ends every 10 balls.

It’s all designed to make The Hundred exciting to watch and to attract fresh interest and viewers to the sport. Those participating in the men’s competition will make or break the chances of eight teams with 15-player squads ready to maximise their minutes with bat and ball.

Southern Brave are the 5/1 online betting favourites with 888 sport and, when you look at the roster assembled for the Southampton-based side, it’s easy to see why. There are some great pace bowling options at the Ageas Bowl, where Brave will play their home games, in Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan, though the former is an injury doubt for the early stages of the competition.

Their overseas players are strong too. South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock adds class and experience to the Brave, while New Zealand’s Devon Conway has impressive international averages with the bat that can’t be ignored. Watch out for Bermuda native Delray Rawlins, who could be a future star for England.

The Hundred side that could give the pre-tournament favourites most to think about are the Oval Invincibles. No prizes for guessing where they’re based. The Invincibles boast both England Test and limited overs openers Rory Burns and Jason Roy at the top of their batting order, plus the Curran brothers Sam and Tom who can each make contributions at the crease and with the ball, although Sam Curran and Burns may be absent for parts of the tournament on England Test duty.

Sam Billings has the gloves with Reece Topley in the bowling attack. Colin Ingram of South Africa and the West Indies’ Sunil Narine add an international flavour to the Invincibles. Trent Rockets are also prominent in The Hundred outright betting with England Test captain Joe Root their marquee man. Alex Hales has plenty of limited overs experience, while Dawid Malan has caught the eye in the recent T20I series whitewash of Sri Lanka.

Northern Superchargers are based at Headingley, meanwhile, with Chris Lynn and Faf du Plessis supported by Adam Lyth. Many eyes will be on England all-rounder Ben Stokes of course. The Superchargers have great bowling options in David Willey and Adil Rashid too.

Manchester Originals have wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler and New Zealand paceman Lockie Ferguson in their ranks. Birmingham Phoenix, based at Edgbaston, could go well with New Zealand’s Finn Allen high up the order and Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Adam Milne providing a variety of threats with the ball.

Welsh Fire can call upon Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps and with the bat. There are also England fringe players Tom Banton and Ben Duckett on the roster, plus Glenn Phillips of New Zealand. Jake Ball and Liam Plunkett feature in the Cardiff franchise’s attack but watch out for the spin of Afghanistan’s Qais Ahmad.

London Spirit have four England internationals in a deep batting line-up yet are considered relative outsiders for The Hundred. Eoin Morgan, Dan Lawrence, Joe Denly and Zak Crawley have veteran Ravi Bopara for company. Mark Wood and Mason Crane will lead the threat with the ball in what promises to be a fast and frantic competition.