England Test skipper Ben Stokes signs 12-month extension as ECB hands out multi-year central contracts

London: Test captain Ben Stokes has signed just a 12-month extension while other England cricketers have agreed multi-year deals amid a raft of new central contracts announced Tuesday. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has changed the way it signs up leading players in an attempt to counter the threat by lucrative T20 franchise leagues around the world in a bid to make sure its stars remain available for international duty. Top-order batsmen Joe Root and Harry Brook, as well as fast bowler Mark Wood, have all agreed three-year deals that will keep them signed up by England until October 2026, while 15 more players have signed two-year contracts. Stokes, however, remains on a standard one-year agreement despite the star all-rounder’s pivotal role in transforming the fortunes of the Test side and in spearheading England’s triumph in last year’s T20 World Cup. The 31-year-old also ended his one-day international retirement to feature in England’s ongoing defence of their 50-over World Cup title in India.

🗞️ We've announced our England Men's Central Contract offers for 2023-24...

And seven players have received offers for the first time!

Find out more 👇

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 24, 2023

None of the agreements prevent players from appearing in franchise cricket but they do mean the ECB has a greater say on their availability. Fast bowler Jofra Archer has been signed up for two more years despite lengthy injury lay-offs. Meanwhile 41-year-old veteran James Anderson, the most successful pace bowler in Test history, has signed up for another year. But there was no new central contract for Jason Roy, whose England career could now be over. The white-ball opener terminated the remainder of his previous deal to play in the United States’ Major League Cricket (MLC) competition earlier this year and he then failed to make the cut for the World Cup squad. Rob Key, managing director of England men’s cricket, said: “We are rewarding those players who we expect to make a significant impact over the coming years playing for England.”