England have renewed the central contracts of Ollie Pope and Shoaib Bashir for one year despite the duo dropping out of the Test XI but Zak Crawley’s expiring deal has not been extended.
A total of 39 players are now under contract with Ollie Robinson, uncapped fellow seamer Henry Crocombe and Crawley’s replacement as opener in the Test side, Emilio Gay, among eight previously uncontracted players to be rewarded with full deals.
They join batters Jordan Cox, Dan Lawrence and Tom Banton and pacemen Sam Cook and Matthew Fisher, with allbut Robinson – who had a deal in 2022 and 2023 – handed contracts for the first time.
Cox, who has become an important player across formats, and Crocombe, who could make his debut in this month’s ODI tri-series in Pakistan, have signed two-year agreements until September 30, 2028.
Surrey-bound seamer Crocombe came to wider attention earlier this season when he took back-to-back hat-tricks for Sussex in the County Championship against Somerset and Essex on his way to taking 40 wickets at an average of 23.52.
Surrey’s former Sussex seamer Henry Crocombe has been awarded a first England central contract, signing up for two years
Eleven players all told are under contract until autumn 2028, including Test captain Joe Root, white-ball skipper Harry Brook and seamers Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue.
The deals of Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Sonny Baker also run until then, with Hampshire quick Baker upgraded to a two-year deal after a strong summer.
Batter Ben Duckett and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith’s deals expire in 2027 and when asked why they were not presented with two-year contracts, England managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key said: “We feel this is the best thing that gets the best out of those guys.”
Ben Stokes’ international retirement means his central contract has ended, freeing up funds for other deals
Carse still under contract; teenager Rew awarded development deal
Seamer Brydon Carse, who has not played for England since an incident outside a Derby nightclub in August that saw him briefly arrested, remains contracted until the end of September 2027 having penned a two-year deal last autumn.
Former captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Mark Wood’s contracts have finished following their international retirements.
Nine development deals have been given out, to James Coles, Mason Crane, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Liam Patterson-White, Thomas Rew, Matthew Revis and Mitch Stanley.
Glamorgan spinner Mason Crane has been handed a development deal
Glamorgan leg-spinner Crane could make his first England appearance in over eight years in the upcoming tri-series in the subcontinent that also includes Sri Lanka.
Somerset wicketkeeper-batter Thomas Rew, 18 – whose older brother James played a Test against New Zealand in 2026 – is the youngest player on the contract list.
England keep faith with Pope and Bashir but Crawley ignored
Batter Pope has not played for England since being dropped for Jacob Bethell after the third Ashes Test last winter having averaged 20.83 in the series to that point, but was included in squads for the 3-0 Test rout at home to Pakistan this summer.
Ollie Pope has penned a new one-year central contract
Off-spinner Bashir has also been handed a fresh contract despite appearing in only two Tests in the last year, both against New Zealand in June.
He did not feature at all during the 4-1 Ashes thrashing in Australia with all-rounder Jacks preferred as the spin option, while he sat out the Pakistan series as part-time spinner Lawrence earned the nod to support the four-pronged pack attack due to his batting ability.
All-rounder Rehan Ahmed, who lost hisplace in the ODI squad for this month’s tri-series in Pakistan, is given new terms, too, with Crawley and left-arm seamer Luke Wood the only senior players whose deals were due to elapse not awarded an extension.
Zak Crawley’s central contract has not been renewed
Surrey’s seam-bowling all-rounder Tom Lawes was on a development deal for 2025-26, which has not been renewed.
Crawley was dropped after averaging 27.30 during The Ashes, while white-ball specialist Wood has not featured since a T20 international against India at Chester-le-Street in July.
Robinson, Cox, Gay among those to earn contracts
Robinson made a triumphant return to international cricket this summer after over two years in exile, picking up 28 wickets in four Tests against New Zealand and Pakistan at an average below 10, claiming two five-fors and a best of 5-39.
Batters Cox, Gay and Lawrence also helped England sweep Pakistan, while Cox and Banton were then part of T20 and one-day international series wins over Sri Lanka in September.
Cox hit fifties in all three Tests against Pakistan after stepping in for the injured Bethell at No 3, while his maiden ODI half-century came versus Sri Lanka in the series decider as he deputised for Jos Buttler following the former captain’s hamstring strain.
Jordan Cox impressed against Pakistan in Test cricket after deputising for the injured Jacob Bethell
Banton – who was also involved in the 4-0 T20I thrashing of India in July – scored his first international hundred against Sri Lanka in the final ODI at The Kia Oval, having struck 73 in the previous game and also an unbeaten fifty in the second T20I between the sides.
Lawrence, like Cox, contributed three Test fifties against Pakistan after replacing Stokes in the XI, while opener Gay has three half-centuries in six Tests since taking the axed Crawley’s spot, firstly against New Zealand at Lord’s in June.
England opener Emilio Gay has signed his first central contract
One of Cox, Gay and Lawrence may have to miss out on the Test XI in South Africa this winter with Bethell with set to return.
What is the latest on Carse?
Carse faced no punishment after a police investigation following the Derby incident but was then charged by the Cricket Regulator for breaching conduct regulations.
The Durham quick, who has played county cricket since the incident, remains available for England selection.
It is understood decisions around his involvement are being taken on a tour-by-tour basis.
Carse has not played for England since an incident outside a Derby nightclub in August
Key said on Monday of Carse, who was England’s leading wicket-taker during the Ashes drubbing with 22 scalps: “I don’t see, at the moment, anything to suggest he won’t continue on that contract, but we will find out more as it goes on.
“We feel Brydon just needs to get his house in order. Once all this is dealt with, we will decide if he can play international cricket again.”
Simons to join England Test coaching staff
England also announced an update to their coaching staff with former South Africa international Eric Simons joining Fleming’s Test group for the South Africa tour, having previously worked with the New Zealander at IPL side Chennai Super Kings.
Simons, 64, played 23 one-day internationals for the Proteas between 1994 and 1995.
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Marcus Trescothick remains part of the red-ball backroom team, with Richard Dawson – the ECB’s new lead spin-bowling coach and former Glamorgan head coach – and ex-England and Essex wicketkeeper James Foster also involved.
Brendon McCullum’s white-ball coaching group, starting with November’s tour of Australia, will include ex-England Women wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor, who worked across formats this summer and was credited with improving Smith’s glovework.
McCullum’s fellow New Zealanders Jeetan Patel and Tim Southee will also be involved in 50-over and T20 cricket, as will former England batter Kevin Pietersen, who began his specialist mentor role against Sri Lanka recently in a deal that runs up to and including the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Elsewhere, former Sussex and England spin-bowling all-rounder Michael Yardy has been named elite national batting lead.
Key on coaching staff: ‘We have best of what this country has to offer’
Marcus Trescothick will continue to work with England’s Test team under head coach Stephen Fleming
Key said on the coaching changes: “I believe when you take on a role as England head coach, you should have the team around you that you think can deliver that success.
“We now have two set-ups that will really enhance all the careers of the players they come in contact with.
“Along with Jonathan Trott doing the Lions, we have the best of what this country has to offer – up-and-coming coaches as well. That is part of a succession plan that may or may not happen.
“I think a number of coaches have the potential to not only learn but go and do the [head coach] job in the future.
“Dawson would be near the top of that list.”
Richard Dawson is England’s new elite national spin-bowling coach lead
Key is hopeful Dawson’s new position leading the spin-bowling department can boost the number and quality of slow bowlers in England but says “that is not an easy problem to solve.”
Watch England’s ODI tri-series in Pakistan live on Sky Sports between October 18 and 31. England’s first game is against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Tuesday October 20 (9am start UK). Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract with NOW.