Ben Stokes is set to give English cricket a major boost by signing a two-year central contract that secures his services through to the 2025-26 Ashes tour.
The England Test captain sprung a surprise last year by signing only a one-year deal despite the England and Wales Cricket Board offering multiyear contracts for the first time, with Joe Root, Mark Wood and Harry Brook all committing themselves for three years, and Ollie Pope and Jofra Archer among those signing two-year deals.
The ECB will offer fewer long-term deals this year as it has been left to count the cost of some expensive mistakes 12 months ago. Jonny Bairstow signed a two-year contract worth £800,000 a year last October but has not appeared for England in any format since the T20 World Cup in June and has little chance of a recall, leaving the ECB paying him more than £1m not to play.
Stokes’s commitment to England has never been in doubt but, given that 12 months ago he was preparing for knee surgery, he opted to keep his options open. The 33-year-old returned successfully for last winter’s tour of India and, despite missing the recent home series against Sri Lanka with a hamstring injury, has proved to himself that his body can withstand the rigours of Test cricket.
Stokes will be back to lead England in the three-match Test series in Pakistan next month. The ECB is hopeful of announcing the new batch of central contracts before the players leave.
Due to the complicated nature of negotiations over the multiyear deals the ECB was not able to confirm the current contracts until halfway through England’s 50-over World Cup campaign in India last year, which multiple sources involved have confirmed was a significant distraction. Jos Buttler’s side endured a disastrous campaign in which they failed to reach the semi-finals.
Stokes’s willingness to commit for a longer period is another significant fillip for the ECB after last week’s announcement that Brendon McCullum has signed a new contract as England’s Test and white-ball coach until the end of 2027.
The New Zealander will take over the running of the limited-overs sides in January before the Champions Trophy in Pakistan the following month, with his new contract keeping him in charge for the Twenty20 World Cup in 2026 and the 50-over version the following year, as well as two Ashes series.
Stokes’ new deal will not be for that long, but indicates his closeness to McCullum and desire to continue working with him. The pair have transformed England’s Test team, who have won 19 out of 29 matches under their stewardship having won just one of the previous 17. Stokes opted out of this year’s Indian Premier League and T20 World Cup to ensure he would be fit for this summer’s Test matches, the format that remains his priority.
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The ECB may offer extensions to some of those players entering the final 12 months of their existing contracts, including Pope – the vice-captain – and Archer. Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Gus Atkinson also have 12 months remaining, but given they are not in huge demand from T20 franchises the ECB may not offer extended terms.
Jamie Smith is certain to be given his first central contract after impressing as a wicketkeeper-batsman this summer, while the 6ft 7in fast bowler Josh Hull is also in the frame after being selected for the Pakistan tour, but may have to settle for a development contract.
Most of the eight players whose one-year deals are expiring will not be offered new ones, as James Anderson, Moeen Ali and Dawid Malan have retired, while Ben Foakes and Ollie Robinson are out of favour. Jack Leach and Reece Topley are likely to be offered new one-year deals.
