England cricket captains Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler have signed new central contracts with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) until 2026.
The extensions showcase their commitment to prioritise playing for their country, according to Rob Key, director of England men's cricket.
Stokes, who previously signed a 12-month deal that expired last month, has now agreed to a two-year extension.
Buttler, already one year into his existing two-year deal, has extended his contract by an additional year.
The new agreements ensure both captains will lead their respective sides through key upcoming tournaments, including next winter's Ashes series and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Several key players have extended their contracts with the ECB. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson has signed a two-year deal until 2026, while spinner Jack Leach and seamer Reece Topley have agreed to one-year extensions.
Ben Stokes has extended his England contract
Reuters
Emerging talents have also secured their first central contracts. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith has been awarded a two-year deal, reflecting his value across formats.
Spinner Shoaib Bashir, who made a surprising breakthrough in India, has signed a one-year contract.
White-ball specialists Will Jacks and Phil Salt have earned their first central contracts, each receiving one-year deals. Fast bowler Olly Stone has also been given a one-year contract.
The ECB has awarded a total of 29 central contracts for the 2024-2025 period. Seven players, including Stokes, Buttler, and Smith, have secured two-year deals.
Twenty-two players have been given one-year contracts, among them established names like Joe Root and emerging talents such as Rehan Ahmed.
The ECB has also introduced development contracts for three young players: Jacob Bethell, Josh Hull, and John Turner.
These contracts provide financial support while allowing the players to continue their development at county level.
Notable players like Jonny Bairstow, who last represented England in June, still have a year remaining on their existing contracts.
Jamie Smith enjoyed has enjoyed a breakout few months with England
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The new contract list also reveals notable omissions. Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes and seamer Ollie Robinson have lost their central contracts after being dropped from the Test side earlier this year.
Veteran players James Anderson, Moeen Ali, and Dawid Malan, who have all retired from international cricket, are no longer on the list.
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Ben Stokes recently had his home broken in to by burglars
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Jordan Cox, who recently made his T20I debut and is currently in the ODI side, is perhaps the most surprising exclusion from the central contracts.
These changes reflect the ECB's focus on rewarding current performers and emerging talents while moving on from players no longer in their immediate plans.
