ECB announce central contracts
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced that a total of 13 players had been awarded England 12-month central contracts until the end of the 2007 domestic international season.
The players are:
- Ian Bell
- Paul Collingwood
- Alastair Cook
- Ashley Giles
- Andrew Flintoff
- Steve Harmison
- Matthew Hoggard
- Simon Jones
- Kevin Pietersen
- Monty Panesar
- Andrew Strauss
- Marcus Trescothick
- Michael Vaughan
Alastair Cook and Monty Panesar each win 12-month contracts for the first time following impressive performances in this summer’s npower Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan and on last winter’s tour of India.
Commenting on the decision, Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: “This is the largest number of England 12-month Central Contracts awarded thus far and reflects the excellent progress made by younger players such as Alastair Cook and Monty Panesar.
“The selectors were also keen to demonstrate our support and faith in those players who are currently recovering from long-term injuries but remain an important part of our plans as we prepare for an intensive programme of international cricket in both forms of the game over the next 12 months.”
With intense competition for the wicket-keeping position at present, the ECB’s International Teams Group has concluded that no one wicket-keeper meets the criteria for the award of an England 12-month Central Contract.
David Graveney added: “The selectors can, of course, award Summer Contracts to individual players from next April if we feel that performances on overseas tours merit this and I am sure that both Chris Read and Geraint Jones will be competing hard to demonstrate their value to the team this winter.”
Background info:
England players’ 12-month Central Contracts are awarded in three different salary bands which are not disclosed publicly.
The selectors can also award a limited number of Summer Contracts to cover the domestic international season from April to September.
England 12-month Central Contracts were introduced in 2002-3. Nine players were awarded 12-month Central Contracts in 2002-3, eight in 2003-4, twelve in 2004-5 and 2005-6.
The ECB’s International Teams Group is chaired by the former Warwickshire Chief Executive and England batsman, Dennis Amiss. It also includes: John Carr, ECB Director of England Cricket, David Collier, ECB Chief Executive, Duncan Fletcher, England Head Coach, David Graveney, Chairman of Selectors, Brian Havill, ECB Finance Director, Peter Moores, ECB National Academy Director and Hugh Morris, ECB Deputy Chief Executive
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