The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday (October 24) unveiled the list of 18 players who have signed central contracts in the country’s first-ever example of multi-year deals.
In total, 29 players have received central contract offers. Surprisingly, England’s Test skipper Ben Stokes decided against signing the longer option.
Harry Brook, Joe Root and Mark Wood are the cricketers who have signed three-year contracts while 15 players have signed two-year deals, including Jofra Archer, who has been dealing with injury issues for the last three years.
Eight players have signed up for more traditional annual central contracts, also featuring Ben Stokes.
Veteran fast bowler James Anderson, who turned 41 in July this year, has also received another year’s deal to play for England.
Three players namely Matthew Fisher, Saqib Mahmood and John Turner have been offered development contracts to support the development of high-potential talent.
"We are rewarding those players who we expect to make a significant impact over the coming years playing for England,” Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key, said in a press release issued by ECB.
"It is great news and a credit to the players for demonstrating their commitment to English cricket in the ever-changing landscape of the sport.
"I would like to congratulate all the players who have been offered contracts. They will play a pivotal role in England's efforts over the next few years.”
In an interview with journalists in Bengaluru on Tuesday (October 24), Rob Key explained Ben Stokes’ decision to sign only a one-year deal.
“We’ve done all of this stuff a year early in effect – the contract system follows the broadcast deals. The next broadcast deal comes next year, so to make any changes really we’re going to do that next year,” Key said.
“Ben Stokes, like people do when they have an offer of a long-term contract, it’s that trade-off of security over a stronger negotiating position. Ben feels that when the contract cycle changes he’ll be in a stronger position,” he added.
Full List of England Contracts
England Three-Year Central Contracts:
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Mark Wood (Durham)
England Two-Year Central Contracts:
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire – from 1 November)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
England One-Year Central Contracts:
Moeen Ali (Warwickshire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ben Foakes (Surrey)
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Reece Topley (Surrey)
England Development Contracts:
Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
John Turner (Hampshire)
