LONDON (AP) - England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, has secured his future with the national team, signing a two-year central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that extends through the home Ashes series in 2027. The agreement underscores the ECB’s commitment to Stokes despite recent injury concerns that have impacted his playing schedule.
The contract, announced Tuesday, provides stability for the influential allrounder and 13 other multi-format players as england navigates a crowded international calendar and the increasing demands of franchise cricket. Jacob Bethell, previously on a progress deal, also received a two-year contract after a breakthrough year that included captaining England’s T20 side against Ireland in September at the age of 22.
Stokes, 34, has captained the Test team since 2022, ushering in a new era alongside coach Brendon McCullum. While he hasn’t featured in England’s white-ball squads as november 2023, the ECB has prioritized securing its key players for both red and white-ball cricket.Twelve additional players signed one-year deals,including Test specialists Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley.
“We have awarded two-year deals to our multi-format players so we can manage their workloads responsibly and give them the stability they need to perform across formats,” explained Rob Key, managing director of England men’s cricket. “We have also secured a number of white-ball players on longer agreements to help us plan effectively around the growing franchise calendar and ensure England remains their priority. This structure allows us to support our players properly while maintaining strong squads across all formats as much as possible.”
The ECB’s decision to offer longer-term contracts reflects a strategic effort to retain top talent amidst the growing competition from lucrative franchise leagues worldwide. The two-year deals aim to balance player welfare with the need for consistent performance across all formats of the game, culminating in the highly anticipated 2027 Ashes series on home soil.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
