With franchise cricket becoming increasingly popular around the world, several England cricketers have signed their first multi-year central contracts with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Eight players have signed annual contracts, bringing the total number of multi-year agreements with the Board to 18. The ECB will also award contracts for England Development to three players.
“The ECB has worked closely with the Professional Cricketers’ Association and Team England Player Partnership on behalf of the players to reach an outcome for all parties,” the ECB stated in a statement.
Pacer Mark Wood, promising batting star Harry Brook, and former Test captain Joe Root all signed three-year central contracts. For the first time, Brook has been presented with an ECB central contract. Jofra Archer, limited-overs captain Jos Buttler, wicketkeeper-bat Jonny Bairstow, and outstanding pacer Gus Atkinson are among the 15 players who have signed the two-year contracts.
Strangely, the board only approved a 12-month deal with England’s current Test captain, Ben Stokes. Eight players, including veteran James Anderson and all-arounder Moeen Ali, have accepted to the yearly contract in addition to the star all-rounder. Dawid Malan received an annual contract this year after being passed over for the deal the year before.
There is no mention of David Willey, who is a member of the team that is now in India for the ICC Cricket World Cup. Saqib Mahmood, John Turner, who has no cap, and Matthew Fisher have all received development contracts.
Three-year central contracts with the ECB: Mark Wood, Joe Root, and Harry Brook
Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue, and Chris Woakes are among the ECB’s major players with two-year deals.
Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, and Reece Topley are among the players with ECB one-year central contracts.
John Turner, Saqib Mahmood, and Matthew Fisher have development contracts with England
India
