Welsh Fire have pulled off a major coup with the signing of England opener and world number two ranked T20 batter Phil Salt.

Salt captained Manchester Originals last season and is the top run scorer in the history of the competition with 1138 runs across five seasons.

At international level, Salt is a regular at the top of the order for England, averaging 38.50 from 50 T20 internationals with an outstanding striker rate of 168.12.

He has scored four T20 international hundreds for England – a record – including consecutive tons against the West Indies in December 2023 and breaking his own record as the scorer of England’s highest individual score against South Africa last summer.

His 141* from 60 balls helped his country to their highest ever total of 304-2 from 20 overs, with Salt hitting the fastest T20 hundred for England, off 39 balls.

Salt has substantial global franchise experience, including the Indian Premier League, SA20, Pakistan Super League, and Caribbean Premier League, alongside regular starring roles in The Hundred and T20 Blast.

He was given a one-year central contract by England in November.

Teams are allowed to directly sign or retain four players before the auction – a new addition for this season – set to take place in March.

Fire are also planning to bring former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on board in a strategic advisory role.

He is the head coach of Indian Premier League side Punjab Kings and Washington Freedom in USA’s Major League Cricket.

If you want to read more pieces from Sportin Wales, why not read to our monthly magazine here or subscribe to the magazine and newsletter at https://sportin.wales/subscribe/.

Our podcast is back for the new season and our co-founder Alex Cuthbert is in charge! You can find all the episodes here or the video versions on our YouTube channel.

You can also keep track of our pieces and videos on our socials at @Sportin_Wales on X or Sportin Wales on Instagram and Facebook.