Cricket-England increase central contracts to record 39


Cricket - Third One Day International - England v Sri Lanka - The Oval, London, Britain - September 27, 2026 England's Jordan Cox celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka's Janith Liyanage Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Oct 12 (Reuters) - England ⁠have expanded their number of ⁠centrally contracted players to a record ‌39, including 30 full contracts, the ECB said on Monday.

Former captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler ​Mark Wood retired from ⁠internationals last year, ⁠and opener Zak Crawley and left-arm seamer ⁠Luke Wood ‌did not get renewed contracts.

Uncapped seamer Henry Crocombe was ⁠awarded a two-year deal as one ​of seven ‌players added to England's full-contract list ⁠for the ​first time.

Jordan Cox also received a two-year deal, and Tom Banton, Sam Cook, ⁠Emilio Gay, Matthew Fisher and ​Dan Lawrence earned one-year contracts. Seam bowler Ollie Robinson returned to the list ⁠after holding central contracts in 2022 and 2023.

England now have 11 players on two-year contracts, with test captain Joe ​Root, one-day skipper Harry ⁠Brook, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell among ​nine whose deals have ‌been extended until September ​2028.

(Reporting by Paras J. Haji in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)

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