The Hundred is set to get underway tomorrow and England white-ball coach Matthew Mott has challenged those on the fringes of his side to use the tournament to try and force their way into his plans ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Last year, Tymal Mills starred with eventual winners Southern Brave and was rewarded with a spot in England's World Cup squad and, with England losing all three T20I series since that tournament, places are certainly up for grabs.
"Can players come in? Absolutely they can. If they're in form, coming off runs, and we go to Pakistan and they do well," Mott said. "[We need to] use that Hundred as a real springboard to get that confidence back across the entire group.
"My message to everyone in our dressing room would be that I want you to be the guy who is the best player in your team and showcase your talent. Last year Liam Livingstone was the MVP [Most Valuable Player] and has ridden that wave ever since.
"The guys in our dressing room have the opportunity to go on that kind of journey. Every game is on TV, every game will have a big crowd and that should be exciting.
"If you can perform to a high-level in those situations, that replicates international cricket and replicates World Cups. It's probably the best thing for everyone in the group."
With that in mind, Mirror Sport has taken a look at eight players who will be hoping to force their way into England's' World Cup squad.
Phil Salt
With Jason Roy under pressure after scoring just 76 runs off 98 balls in six T20I innings this summer, Salt has a massive opportunity to show why he should replace him in the side. The 25-year-old has not opened for England in his four T20I appearances so far, but has impressed at the top of the order in ODIs.
He has been a regular in the squad this summer but made just one appearance at number four against India. Should he star opening the batting alongside Jos Buttler for Manchester Originals, Salt could find himself opening with the England captain at the World Cup.
Harry Brook
Another player who has been a regular in England squads this summer, Brook's starring role for Northern Superchargers in last year's Hundred helped him earn his international debut. Although he is yet to make a major impact for England, Mott has challenged him to "go back to the Hundred, get a mountain of runs [and] keep putting pressure on" those more established names.
Should Brook impress in the Hundred once again, he will likely be on the plane to Australia in October. The 23-year-old will surely get opportunities in the upcoming T20Is against Pakistan and Australia and will be desperate to continue his good form in the Hundred so he can make the most of those chances.
Tom Banton
Banton has also been in and around the England setup in recent years, but endured a lean 2021 where he averaged just 12 in The Hundred for Welsh Fire. However, he began to find some form in this year's T20 Blast for Somerset, blasting 73 off 41 balls in their quarter-final win over Derbyshire, and he recently scored his maiden first-class hundred in the County Championship.
Although Salt appears to have leapfrogged him in the pecking order, Banton did open for England in their five-match series against the West Indies in January, notably scoring 73 off 39 in the third T20I, and an impressive Hundred campaign could see him back in the squad.
Will Smeed
A real breakout star from last year's tournament, Smeed struck 166 runs at an average of 33.20 and a strike rate of 172.91 for Birmingham Phoenix. He is certainly a player England have their eye on, having been included in the England Lions squad which faced South Africa in two 50-over warm-up matches last month.
Coming off the back of an impressive Blast campaign for Somerset, Smeed is in form and part of a group of very talented young openers challenging for Roy's spot. Aged just 20, he is a hugely promising prospect and it seems only a matter of time until he breaks into the England setup.
Rehan Ahmed
The 17-year-old leg-spinner has enjoyed a magnificent year so far, which began with him starring at the Under 19 World Cup where England finished runners-up. His displays at that tournament earned him a Hundred deal with defending champions Southern Brave and he also starred for Leicestershire in the Blast, taking 19 wickets at an average of 20.15.
He was also part of the Lions side which took on South Africa last month and later trained with the senior team, learning invaluable lessons from Adil Rashid who believes Ahmed has a "big future ahead". Should the teenager star for Southern Brave, it is not out of the question that an England debut will follow.
Jake Lintott
Having been drafted in by Southern Brave as a wildcard pick last year, Lintott ended The Hundred as their leading wicket taker with 11 at an average of 19. The left-arm wrist spinner has been dubbed the Jamie Vardy of cricket after only signing his first full-time professional contract at the age of 27.
Now 29, Lintott has starred for Birmingham Bears in the Blast over the last few years and even represented Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League and Fortune Barishal in the Bangladesh Premier League. Another who was part of the recent Lions team, a second impressive Hundred campaign could see him given a chance to provide some competition for Rashid, particularly after Matt Parkinson struggled against India.
David Payne
With a number of seamers out injured at the moment, Payne is one player who could benefit if he impresses in The Hundred for Welsh Fire. He has been a part of several England squads over the last few years and made his international debut against the Netherlands in June.
The left-armer has a stellar T20 record, having taken 151 wickets at 22.12 across his career, and has excelled both with the new ball and at the death. Having enjoyed an impressive Blast campaign with Gloucestershire where he picked up 18 wickets at 13.88, an excellent showing in The Hundred could see him earn a T20I debut.
Luke Wood
Another left-arm seamer who was part of England's recent trip to the Netherlands, Wood will almost certainly be on their radar during The Hundred. Although he did not make his debut on that tour, he was specifically name checked by Mott when the squad was announced.
The 27-year-old is capable of reaching speeds of over 90mph, has impressed with both the new ball and at the death in T20 cricket and is also a useful batter with two first-class hundreds to his name. Should he impress for Trent Rockets, Wood could find himself part of England's World Cup plans.
