When analysing the wretched displays of Welsh Fire in the 2022 edition of The Hundred, Sky Sports Cricket pundit Nasser Hussain did not hold back.
“Not much Welsh and not much fire,” was his take as the men’s side lost all eight games and the women’s five from six.
You cannot accuse Oval Invincibles Men – who, on Sunday, became the first side in the short history of The Hundred to win three titles in a row – of not living up to their name, though.
They have a lot of Oval and an air of invincibility.
Among the two-time defending champions’ squad are a host of Surrey players who have an affinity with The Oval and the local area, including Sam Curran, big brother Tom and Will Jacks – the latter thumping 72 from 41 balls in this weekend’s victory over Trent Rockets in the final at Lord’s.
Sam and Tom are the heartbeat, taking 24 wickets between them this season – 12 for the former, including some with his sub-50mph moon balls, and the same number for the latter.
Sam also contributed 238 runs, with two half-centuries and 16 sixes at a strike-rate of 176.29, which makes you wonder once again why he has slipped from England contention.
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Sam Curran has taken wickets in The Hundred with deliveries bowled at under 50mph!
Cox the man of The Hundred in 2025
Invincibles, of course, also represent Kent and that county is well served at The Oval team by Sam Billings, Jordan Cox (born in Kent and played for Kent before joining Essex) and Tawanda Muyeye.
Billings knits things together as captain, with his side winning 21 of their previous 27 matches stretching back to the start of 2023, while Muyeye has shone in patches this term, most notably with a 28-ball 59 not out versus Manchester Originals.
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Jordan Cox hit four sixes in just five balls when Invincibles piled on the runs against Welsh Fire at The Oval
But Cox was named the men’s Hundred MVP in 2025, clubbing the most runs (367), most sixes (22), joint highest score (86 not out) and joint most fifties (three), at a strike-rate of 173.93.
World Cup-winning England captain turned Sky Sports pundit Eoin Morgan said of Cox: “At the moment, he just looks like an international cricketer to a tee.” He is currently out of international white-ball squads but that may soon change.
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Check out the best of Cox’s knock of 56 from 37 balls against Southern Brave
Hussain: How Invincibles get things right
Like the Currans, Jacks, Billings and Cox, pacer Saqib Mahmood and spinner Nathan Sowter have been with Invincibles from the start.
Mahmood recorded figures of 1-10 from 15 balls in the final, closing out the win, while Sowter pretty much shredded Rockets’ hopes earlier on when he dismissed the top three of Tom Banton, Joe Root and Rehan Ahmed in the space of six balls.
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Nasser Hussain discusses what has made the Oval Invincibles so successful after they won a third Hundred title in a row.
Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain said of Invincibles: “You don’t know what comes first – the success or the consistency of squad. But if you have success why change the squad?
“They don’t change much in tournaments or even in games. They are fairly formulaic as they know what works, plus they have lots of all-rounders, multi-dimensional cricketers.
“Their biggest strength is the affiliation with The Oval. You see that with the players and fans and out of all the sides there is an attachment.”
It’s nice to play with people that you know. You build a very good connection with them and I think that is why we play better. We’re a team that has seven players still in the team (from day one) and
you build a relationship outside of cricket as well.
A final triumph for this version of the Invincibles?
But what next for Invincibles?
A name change looks likely with the Oval club soon to be run by the Ambani family, the owners of Indian Premier League team Mumbai Indians. MI London has been mooted as Invincibles’ new title.
A settled squad could also be broken up ahead of the 2026 tournament if an IPL-style player auction comes into effect.
But if that is the case, then the masters of The Hundred ended this era in perfect fashion.
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Invincibles captain Sam Billings praised head coach Tom Moody as the team’s dominance of the men’s Hundred continued
Captain Billings said: “It is incredible, very special, a brilliant group. We have kept that consistency for three to five years and that has shown in the performances.
“It has probably been the most pleasing year. We have dominated, put our foot down, so I am very proud of everyone involved.
“Our support staff allow us to perform and everyone has contributed to our success. That’s what great sides do.”