ECB hand Test contracts to three first-timers
England's Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley (right) walk off the pitch for a rain delay during day four of the Second Test match at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. PA Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 16, 2020. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Stu Forster/NMC Pool/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use without prior written consent of the ECB. Still image use only. No moving images to emulate broadcast. No removing or obscuring of sponsor logos.
The ECB has today confirmed the award of Central Contracts for England Men’s Test and white-ball cricket for 2020/21.
The selectors have awarded 12 Test Central Contracts and 12 White Ball Central Contracts, as well as four Increment Contracts and three Pace Bowling Development Contracts.
Kent’s Zak Crawley, Surrey’s Ollie Pope and Warwickshire’s Dom Sibley all receive Test Central Contracts for the first time off the back of a 12-month period in which all three scored their maiden Test centuries.
Surrey all-rounder Tom Curran has progressed to a White Ball Central Contract, having been in possession of an Increment Contract for 2019/20.
Kent’s Joe Denly misses out on a White Ball Central Contract, and Jonny Bairstow a Test Central Contract.
In addition to Test and White Ball central contracts, selectors can award a limited number of Increment Contracts and Pace Bowling Developmental Contracts
Dom Bess, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan and Jack Leach receive Increment Contracts, with Saqib Mahmood, Olly Stone and Craig Overton retaining their Pace Bowling Development Contracts.
Recipients of Test Central Contracts and White Ball Central Contracts have their salaries paid in full by the ECB.
Under the structure, players in both formats receive a ‘ranking’ based on their performances on the pitch, as well as a number of other factors, including off-field contribution, fielding and fitness. Those rankings then correlate with the level of remuneration.
In light of the impact of COVID-19 on the finances of the game, the Team England Player Partnership, on behalf of the players, and the ECB are currently finalising the levels of player remuneration for the next 12 months. A further statement will be made once these discussions have concluded.
The contracts, which cover a 12-month period commencing 1 October 2020, have been awarded to the following players:
Test Central Contracts
James Anderson (Lancashire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).
White Ball Central Contracts
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
Increment Contracts
Dom Bess (Somerset), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Jack Leach (Somerset)
Pace Bowling Development Contracts
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Olly Stone (Warwickshire)