The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has made it known that they have an altered central contracts list for the 2025-26 cycle which is a sign of a long-term plan and multi-format management under heavy workload. In the same announcement, the 14 players got awarded two-year contracts (up to 30 September 2027) while 12 one-year deals and four development contracts under one-year deals with developmental contracts still available.
The move to multi-year contracts indicates England’s desire to keep the main multi-format players amid a busy international calendar and the rising influence of franchise leagues. According to Rob Key, the ECB Men’s Director of Cricket, “The two-year contracts have been given to the multi-format players so that their workloads can be managed responsibly, and they will have the stability they need to perform across formats.”
Two-Year Central Contracts (to 30 Sept 2027)
Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire).
England One-Year Central Contracts (30 September 2026)
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Zak Crawley (Kent), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Mark Wood (Durham), Luke Wood (Lancashire).
Cricketers such as Sonny Baker, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, and Luke Wood have been newly awarded central contracts for the 2025–26 season.
Developmental Contracts List
Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Tom Lawes and Mitchell Stanley
The list of two-year contracts has several high-profile players including Test captain Ben Stokes has pledged his commitment until the home 2027 Ashes, and other star players like Jos Buttler, Joe Root, and Harry Brook have also signed multi-year contracts. Meanwhile, Jacob Bethell and other young players who were once on development contracts have now received two-year full contracts.
The players who are given one-year contracts are mainly one-format specialists, coming back from injuries, or gradually getting their feet wet in the team; this provides England with a versatile but also a direct and loud message about the selectors’ priorities. Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope are among the most prominent players who have been granted one-year contracts.
When a player is left without a contract, it generally means that there has been a significant change in their status or that they are about to retire. The new system of the ECB, therefore, not only acts as a reward but also as a planning tool, getting England’s squad ready for such important events as the 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2027-28 Ashes cycle.
The signed contract at the same time shows the twofold problem for England: to keep their best players for the major tournaments and to let the up-and-coming ones through to the main team. The deals for several years indicate the clear intention stability, managing the amount of work, being able to play in different formats, and staying on top of the game. Not only for the fans but also for the players, this is more than just a matter of administration, it actually reveals the development of the best international teams amidst the franchises, busy calendars, and bio-bubbles.
Written By:- Manjunath S