It was concerns over phishing online, rather than fishing outside the off‑stump, that nearly scuppered Caleb Falconer’s hopes of a contract in The Hundred. While on the Under‑19 World Cup tour, the Middlesex all‑rounder had no agent and was thousands of miles from home. He called his father, Stuart, who temporarily acted as an unofficial representative. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) needed to confirm the call was genuine, so a quick identity check and a few emails cleared the way for Falconer to be added to the auction list.

The auction saw two franchises battle for the teenager, and Southern Brave won at a price of £55,000. Falconer said “being in the auction was a really cool achievement” and praised the bidding war as “unbelievable.” His inclusion marks a significant step for a player who moved to the UK in 2023 and has yet to debut for Brave.

Falconer finished as the sixth‑highest run‑scorer at the Under‑19 World Cup with 309 runs at 61.80. He admires AB de Villiers and aims to play all three formats for England, hoping the experience with Brave will pave the way for future franchise opportunities.