By Gareth James

Glamorgan ace Chris Cooke will join the Welsh Fire for this summer’s The Hundred.

Cooke will be joined by Luke Wells in Mike Hussey’s squad at Sophia Gardens.

The due were picked up in the Vitality Wildcard draft after excellent performances in the T20 format.

Cooke smashed the fastest century by a Glamorgan player in the Vitality Blast against Middlesex in a record-breaking display at Merchant Taylors’ School. It was the 6th fastest hundred of all time in the Blast.

He hit 419 runs in the tournament, including 22 sixes, while taking eight dismissals behind the stumps. Cooke had previously played for Birmingham Phoenix in the inaugural The Hundred.

South African Cooke said: “The opportunity to play at a packed Sophia Gardens fills me with excitement.

“It’s a place I obviously know incredibly well through my domestic cricket with Glamorgan, and I feel that Wales has become my home now which makes me very proud to represent this team.

“We look like we have a great opportunity this year with the picks made by Mike Hussey and the team.

“I’m looking forward to meeting up with everyone in the next couple of weeks and getting our campaign underway.”

Wells said: “I’m absolutely honoured to have been given this opportunity at the Welsh Fire. An opportunity I wouldn’t have dreamed of a few years ago.

“I can’t wait to meet up with the squad and the coaching staff and I’m incredibly excited by the idea of working with Mike Hussey. Hopefully I can contribute to wins and help bring success to the team.”