Rockets look the team to beat again in men's competition

The third campaign of The Hundred starts this week and when looking for a team to back in the men's competition, punters should look no further than defending champions Trent Rockets.

It was tense and tight but the Rockets got over the line in the final of last year's competition thanks to skipper Lewis Gregory, edging Manchester Originals by two wickets.

Gregory scored an unbeaten 17 off six deliveries to guide his team to glory and demonstrated his excellent leadership abilities again when leading Somerset to the Twenty20 Blast title earlier this year.

Andy Flower's side possess a powerful top order with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Dawid Malan and Alex Hales all worth keeping an eye on, while Samit Patel is a dangerous middle-order operator and Ish Sodhi looks a fine replacement for spinner Rashid Khan.

Champions in 2021, Southern Brave will be looking for an improved performance after finishing seventh last year, while last season's runners-up Manchester Originals could also go deep with star man Jos Buttler insisting his side have what it takes to win the title.

Trent Rockets to win men's Hundred 9/2

Invincibles Women target hat-trick of titles

In the women's Hundred, Oval Invincibles are looking to make it three titles on the spin and it would be a bold move to oppose the two-time defending champions.

The Invincibles were five-wicket winners over Southern Brave in last year's final after winning five of their six matches during the regular season and they will take some stopping.

Captain Dane van Niekerk is a top leader, while Lauren Winfield-Hall and overseas talent Suzie Bates were dangerous at the crease last season, firing a combined 451 runs in the competition.

English youngster Alice Capsey, meanwhile, offers a threat with bat and ball and the Invincibles have a settled and talented squad ready to go the distance again.

They begin their campaign on Wednesday against London Spirit, who are another team with a chance of going far.

Spirit could only finish seventh last season but are led by England captain Heather Knight, who oversaw a superb performance from her country in the women's Ashes this summer, while they have plenty of promising youngsters in their ranks from Lauren Filer to Charlie Dean.

Oval Invincibles to win women's Hundred 

Tongue can make his mark for Manchester

Four teams get their Hundred campaigns underway on Wednesday, including last season's men's runners-up Manchester Originals, who are up against Welsh Fire.

A lot has been made of the batting options at the disposal of the Originals from Jos Buttler to Phil Salt, but in the bowling department Josh Tongue is also one to keep an eye on.

Tongue could be in for a decent Hundred campaign for the Originals after impressing for England's Test team earlier this summer, having taken 10 wickets in two matches in the format against Ireland and Australia.

Tongue could be worth selecting to be top wicket-taker against Welsh Fire, who failed to win a single match in the men's Hundred last year and lost last season's top runscorer Ben Duckett.

Josh Tongue to be top Manchester Originals wicket-taker v Welsh Fire 13/4