The ECB has awarded central contracts to 30 players and development deals to nine others, while confirming new coaching appointments ahead of England’s upcoming international tours.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced its men’s contract list for the 2026/27 season, featuring 39 players across its central and development contract categories. The announcement includes seven players receiving central contracts for the first time, alongside six cricketers earning their maiden development agreements.
The selection process considers players’ performances over the previous year and their potential roles across Test and white-ball cricket during the upcoming season.
England Men’s Central Contracts for 2026/27
The 30 centrally contracted players include Joe Root, Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Matthew Fisher, Will Jacks, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Ollie Robinson, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.
Tom Banton, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe, Emilio Gay, Matthew Fisher and Dan Lawrence have secured their first central contracts. Meanwhile, Ollie Robinson has returned to the list after previously holding a central deal in 2022 and 2023.
Sonny Baker has received an upgraded two-year agreement, while Cox and Crocombe have also signed two-year deals. Overall, 11 players have contracts running until September 30, 2028.
Nine Players Receive Development Contracts
England’s development contract list includes James Coles, Mason Crane, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Liam Patterson-White, Thomas Rew, Matthew Revis and Mitch Stanley.
Coles, Crane, McKinney, Patterson-White, Rew and Revis have earned their first development contracts. Crane’s inclusion comes as he prepares to join an England squad for the first time in more than eight years.
At 18, Thomas Rew is the youngest player in the group. He captained England’s Young Lions to the final of the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup earlier in 2026.
England Confirm New Coaching Structure
The ECB has also announced appointments to its national coaching structure. Mike Yardy will serve as Elite National Batting Lead, while Richard Dawson takes responsibility for spin bowling. Troy Cooley continues as Elite National Pace Bowling Lead.
Test head coach Stephen Fleming will work with Dawson, Marcus Trescothick, James Foster and Eric Simons. Brendon McCullum’s white-ball staff will include Sarah Taylor, Jeetan Patel and Tim Southee, with Kevin Pietersen appointed as a specialist mentor.
The coaching teams will prepare England for their upcoming Test tour of South Africa and white-ball tour of Australia.