Birmingham Phoenix vs Trent Rockets Prediction & Match Preview – The Hundred 4th Match
Match summary
Our preview of Birmingham Phoenix vs Trent Rockets at Edgbaston in The Hundred Men’s 2026: team news, likely XIs, pitch, weather and a predicted result.
Match details
| Match | Birmingham Phoenix vs Trent Rockets, 4th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | The Hundred Men’s 2026 |
| Date | 24 Jul 2026 |
| Start time | 5:30 pm GMT / 6:30 pm local |
| Venue | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Trent Rockets |
| Toss pick | Birmingham Phoenix |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Birmingham Phoenix open their 2026 campaign under a cloud. Captain Ben Duckett has been ruled out of the tournament with injury, and Donovan Ferreira steps in to lead a side that failed to get past the league stage last season. They face a Trent Rockets team that looked among the strongest in the competition a year ago.
Phoenix’s batting is built around Joe Clarke, last season’s top scorer for the side with 229 runs, who is likely to open with Will Smeed. Rehan Ahmed has joined the middle order alongside Matthew Montgomery and Mitchell Owen, with Laurie Evans and Jordan Thompson providing finishing power. The bowling has been reshaped: Mustafizur Rahman and Saqib Mahmood take the new ball, while Usman Tariq’s variations and Thompson’s overs are expected to matter through the middle phase.
Trent Rockets lost the 2025 final to Oval Invincibles but beat Phoenix in both of their meetings that year. Sam Billings now captains, succeeding David Willey. Tom Banton scored 257 runs last season, the most for the team, and partners the explosive Finn Allen at the top, with Tim David and Billings holding the middle together. Mohammad Amir and Matt Henry form a fresh new-ball pair, Ben Sanderson covers the middle overs, and Mitchell Santner, Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory add all-round depth. With that record and balance, the Rockets edge it on paper.
Edgbaston usually offers a balanced surface for T20 cricket. Seamers can find swing and movement with the new ball, particularly under cloud, and the true bounce lets batters play their shots once set. The pitch tends to improve for strokeplay as the game goes on, though spinners and pacers who vary their pace remain useful in the middle overs. Sides often choose to bat first here, with 170–185 regarded as competitive and anything above 190 hard to chase.
Conditions at Edgbaston for the 6:30 pm local start are forecast to be excellent, with mostly sunny to clear skies and temperatures of around 26–27°C. Rain is highly unlikely and winds should be light. Dew is expected to be minimal, so it should not play a big part.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 160–175 | – |
| Second innings | 150–170 | – |
Trent Rockets
The Rockets reached last year’s final, beat Phoenix twice in 2025 and have a settled batting and bowling core, while Phoenix start without their captain.
Toss pick: Birmingham Phoenix
FAQ
Who is predicted to win Birmingham Phoenix vs Trent Rockets?
Our preview leans towards Trent Rockets, who reached the 2025 final and won both meetings with Phoenix last year.
Who is captaining Birmingham Phoenix in this match?
Donovan Ferreira leads the side after Ben Duckett was ruled out of the tournament through injury.
What is a good first-innings score at Edgbaston?
Our estimate is 160–175 in this game, although totals of 170–185 are generally seen as competitive at the ground.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Birmingham Phoenix
- Donovan Ferreirac
- Will Smeed
- Rehan Ahmed
- Laurie Evans
- Matthew Montgomery
- Joe Clarkewk
- Mitchell Owen
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Jordan Thompson
- Saqib Mahmood
- Usman Tariq
Trent Rockets
- Sam Billingsc, wk
- Tom Banton
- Finn Allen
- David Willey
- Tim David
- Mitchell Santner
- Craig Overton
- Lewis Gregory
- Ben Sanderson
- Mohammad Amir
- Matt Henry