England announce 2026/27 central contracts: Ollie Robinson returns, Tom Banton, Jordan Cox among seven players handed first-time deals

England have expanded their central contract list for the 2026/27 season, rewarding seven players with their first full contracts while handing fast bowler Ollie Robinson a return to the list as part of a wider reshuffle of the country’s international cricket structure. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed 30 central contracts alongside nine England Development contracts, underlining its efforts to strengthen the player pool across formats.

Tom Banton, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe, Emilio Gay, Matthew Fisher and Dan Lawrence have earned central contracts for the first time. Robinson, who previously held central contracts in 2022 and 2023, has also returned to the list.

The expanded arrangements mark a change from the 2025/26 season, when the ECB’s overall contracted-player list featured 30 players.

Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe among players handed two-year deals

The ECB has also increased its commitment to several players through longer-term agreements. Sonny Baker has been upgraded to a two-year contract, while Cox and Crocombe have secured two-year central contracts for the first time.

A total of 11 players are now on two-year central contracts, with nine players from last year’s list extending their deals through to September 2028. The group comprises Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Joe Root and Josh Tongue.

Meanwhile, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Adil Rashid and Jamie Smith are entering the second year of their existing two-year contracts, which run until the end of England’s 2027 home summer.

Six players earn first England Development contracts

The ECB has awarded first-time England Development contracts to James Coles, Mason Crane, Ben McKinney, Liam Patterson-White, Thomas Rew and Matthew Revis. Crane’s selection comes in the same week that he is set to join an England squad for the first time in more than eight years, marking a significant step in his return to the international setup.

At just 18, Rew is the youngest player on the development list. The wicketkeeper-batter captained the Young Lions to the final of the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup earlier this year. Josh Hull, Eddie Jack and Mitchell Stanley complete the nine-player development group alongside the six newcomers.

England central contracts: Full list for 2026/27

Two-year central contracts: Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, Harry Brook, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Joe Root and Josh Tongue – through September 30, 2028.

One-year central contracts: Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Shoaib Bashir, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Ollie Robinson, Phil Salt and Jamie Smith – through September 30, 2027.

England Development contracts: James Coles, Mason Crane, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Liam Patterson-White, Thomas Rew, Matthew Revis and Mitchell Stanley – through September 30, 2027.

Zak Crawley, Mark Wood and Ben Stokes among those no longer contracted

The revised list also marks the end of central contract arrangements for several players. Zak Crawley, Tom Lawes, Luke Wood and Mark Wood are no longer contracted, while Ben Stokes has been removed from the list following his retirement.