Hampshire 2026 T20 Blast Cricket Draft Preview

Overview

Hampshire were a formidable outfit last summer, marching all the way to the final before falling to Somerset by six wickets at the final hurdle. The three-time winners, most recently crowned in 2022, finished the 2025 group stage in third place following a balanced record of seven wins and six defeats. Their journey to Finals Day was highlighted by a high-scoring quarter-final at Chester-le-Street, where half-centuries from Toby Albert, Chris Lynn, and Hilton Cartwright helped them post a massive 221.

The Hawks will be desperate to go one better this year. They have bolstered their ranks with the signing of South African sensation Tristan Stubbs, while Hilton Cartwright returns to provide veteran stability. While they boast an excellent crop of seamers, the squad faces a significant void following the departure of Benny Howell to Nottinghamshire. If they can keep their frontline bowlers fit, Hampshire should once again be among the favorites to reach the latter stages.

Hampshire 2026 T20 Blast Fantasy Values

Hampshire 2026 T20 Blast Fantasy Values

Key Picks: Banker, Wildcard, Young Gun & England Watch

Banker: James Vince (BAT)

Vince is the definition of consistency and remains the leading run-scorer in the history of the competition with 5,830 runs. Last season was no different; the Hampshire skipper amassed 527 runs at an average of 37.64, including five half-centuries. As the man who sets the tone at the top of the order, Vince is a "set and forget" pick for any draft manager.

Wildcard: Toby Albert (BAT)

Despite being the overall leading run-scorer in the tournament last summer, Albert remains surprisingly affordable at £7.1m. He was in sublime touch in 2025, racking up 633 runs, edging out Will Smeed by 13 runs, at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 150.00. With six half-centuries and a high score of 98*, he is a high-volume scorer who offers elite value compared to some of the more "famous" names in the draft.

Young Gun: Ben Mayes (BAT)

Following an impressive winter with the England Under-19s, Mayes has successfully transitioned into the Hampshire red-ball setup, featuring in all four County Championship matches so far this season. He showed his white-ball potential last summer in the Second XI T20, scoring 206 runs at an average of 51.50. If he can break into the Hawks' star-studded T20 XI, he could be the breakout star of the summer.

England Watch: Scott Currie (BWL)

Currie’s international status is a major talking point; a former Scotland international, he is now England-eligible following his appearance as a 12th man against Ireland. He was lethal last summer, claiming the second-most wickets in the competition with 27 scalps. He is also a more than capable lower-order batter—while his T20 average is 15, he does possess a first-class century, making him a genuine wicket-taking threat with "sneaky" batting upside.

Potential Strongest XI for 2026 T20 Blast

No	Player	Role
1	Toby Albert	BAT
2	James Vince	BAT
3	Tom Prest	BAT
4	Tristan Stubbs (OS)	BAT
5	Hilton Cartwright (OS)	BAT
6	James Fuller	ALR
7	Liam Dawson	ALR
8	Scott Currie	BWL
9	John Turner	BWL
10	Chris Wood	BWL
11	Sonny Baker	BWL