ECB announce new 'single' contracts to 20 players in revamp

ECB announce new ‘single’ contracts to 20 players in revamp of central contract system… as previous separation of red and white-ball deals is SCRAPPED

  • Sportsmail revealed England were set to scrap red and white-ball deals system 
  • The ECB’s solution is 20 annual contract awarded on a ‘single’ contract list 
  • Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach and Dawid Malan receive their first full deals 
  • Ben Stokes is retained despite ongoing hiatus, as are Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope
  • But there is no room for opener Dom Sibley or fellow batsman Haseeb Hameed 

The ECB has announced its revamp of the central contract system by handing 20 of its stars a ‘single’ deal lasting a 12-month period.

Sportsmail revealed last month that England were set to scrap the distinction between red and white-ball central contracts next season as part of a major overhaul that will give coach Chris Silverwood a bigger pool of contracted players to choose from in both formats.

Now the ECB have confirmed the new measure, which see 20 annual contracts awarded on a ‘single’ contract list instead of the previous separation depending on the format introduced in 2016. 

The ECB has announced its revamp of the central contract system by handing 20 of its stars a ‘single’ deal


Ollie Robinson and batsman Dawid Malan have received their first full England contracts

Spinner Jack Leach has also received a full deal despite not playing a Test all summer

Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, Ollie Pope, Adil Rashid, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood 

England Increment Contracts

Dom Bess, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone 

England Pace Bowling Development Contracts

Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Olly Stone 

The result sees Ollie Robinson – who took 28 wickets for England in Tests against New Zealand and India combined this summer – receive his first full deal.

The seamer is joined by Dawid Malan – who was recalled to the Test side against India having already established himself as a mainstay of the T20 side – and spinner Jack Leach, who did not feature in a single Test during the summer. 

Ben Stokes keeps his place amid his ongoing hiatus, while Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope are also retained despite their indifferent form with the bat during the summer, which saw the former dropped against Virat Kohli’s men.

Opener Dom Sibley however is not so fortunate and has been completely omitted, having being a Test regular since 2019, but a player who was also dropped against India amid a run of poor form. 

There is also no spot for fellow batsman Haseeb Hameed, who was recalled to the setup this summer following his form for Nottinghamshire but is now kept waiting having made just two appearances since beginning his international comeback.

Four members of the 15-man T20 World Cup squad – Sam Billings, David Willey and Tymal Mills – go without contracts, while rising star Liam Livingstone joins Dom Bess, Chris Jordan and Tom Curran on the lower incremental banding.

That is accompanied by three deals for Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton and Olly Stone, who all keep their pace bowling development contracts.

The new system ensures white-ball captain Eoin Morgan and allrounder Moeen Ali – who announced his retirement from Test cricket last month – are on the same type of contracts as their red-ball playing team-mates.  

Managing director Ashley Giles said: ‘This new system is the fairest and most transparent way of rewarding players across all formats.

‘Since the inception of central contracts in 2002, the system has facilitated improved preparation, performance and professionalism of the England team and has ensured that players are well rewarded for representing their country at the elite level.

‘The international game continues to evolve, and we have to be mindful that we have to lead the way in player performance across cricket’s ever-changing landscape. 

‘Our objective remains the same to develop world-class players in all three formats as we strive to become the most respected team in the world.’

Zak Crawley (left) has been retained but their is no place for opener Dom Sibley (right)

Haseeb Hameed is another England batsman who has missed out in the contract revamp

Allrounder Stokes has not played for his country since July, when he cut short rehabilitation on a broken index finger to captain the one-day side at short notice following a Covid outbreak.

He has since taken time away from the game to focus on his mental health and his injury, which recently required a second operation. He is not appearing in the T20 World Cup this month and is unlikely to be back for the Ashes but there are hopes that he will return to the fold in 2022 and his appearance on the contracted list chimes with that belief.

Sussex seamer Robinson was superb on the field this summer, despite some self-inflicted turmoil off it, taking 28 wickets in five Tests at an average of 19.60. Malan, meanwhile, was recalled to the Test side having already established himself as a mainstay of the T20 side.

On the other hand, Leach finds himself promoted to the main list having not worn the Three Lions all summer. He was excellent over the winter tours of Sri Lanka and India but was edged out of the team on home soil and owes his renewed status as first-choice Test spinner to Moeen’s retirement.

Liam Livingstone meanwhile will have to settle for a place on the lower incremental banding

Ben Stokes also keeps his place amid his ongoing hiatus from all forms of cricket




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