(Cricket news) The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made an announcement regarding the award of Central Contracts for England Men's International cricket for 2021-22.

Under the changed system, 20 annual contracts will be awarded on a 'single' contract list instead of the previous separation of red ball and white ball contracts introduced in 2016.

The contracts awards panel, Managing Director of Men's England Cricket, Ashley Giles and Head Coach, Chris Silverwood, has also awarded four England Increment Contracts and three England Pace Bowling Development Contracts.

The new system has been developed working in talks with the players, Team England Player Partnership (TEPP) and the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA). It has been made to meet England's future needs in what has become a fluid and dynamic landscape.

The system considers the likelihood of players featuring in England teams in all the formats in the next 12 months, whilst also recognising performances in the previous year. Considerations were also agreed against a packed international schedule, made challenging by additional Covid-related constraints, and taking into account the mental wellbeing and welfare of the players.

In addition to the 20 Central Contracts, awards have been made for Increment Contracts and Pace Bowling Development Contracts. This structure recognises players that may feature for England on a less predictable scheme and supports developing and managing high potential pace bowlers across every format.

The contracts, which cover a 12-month period commencing 1 October 2021, have been awarded to the following players:

England Men's Central Contracts

Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Jack Leach (Somerset), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham)

England Increment Contracts

Dom Bess (Yorkshire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Chris Jordan (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
 

England Pace Bowling Development Contracts

Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Olly Stone (Warwickshire)

Somerset spinner Jack Leach, Yorkshire batsman Dawid Malan and Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson all  have received Central Contracts for the first time. Lancashire all-rounder Liam Livingstone has been awarded an increment contract for the first time after his excellent campaign during the English summer. Surrey's Tom Curran returns to an increment contract having had a white-ball contract in 2020/21.

Managing Director of Men's England Cricket, Ashley Giles, said:"I would like to thank TEPP and the players for all their constructive input through the process of developing this new system, which I believe is the fairest and most transparent way of rewarding players across all formats.

"We have worked well to get to this stage and the refinements made will take into account the amount of cricket we will be playing across formats over the next period of the ICC Future Tours Programme.

"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.

"I would like to congratulate all the players offered agreements for the coming year, particularly newcomers Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, and Ollie Robinson. Receiving your first central contract is a great moment in any player's career. They will all play a pivotal role in England's fortunes over the next 12 months."

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