Test debutant Jacob Bethell has been awarded the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) contract on a two-year deal. Bethell has joined the elite list of Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Harry Brook are in the list.
The central contract has become handy for Jacob Bethell who has endured a successful season thus far. The 21-year-old made his ODI and T20I debuts during the white-ball home series against Australia in September before making his test debut in ongoing England’s tour of New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the pace trio of Jofra Archer, Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse have also extended their contracts till 2026.
Archer’s contract extension is particularly noteworthy given his absence from Test cricket since February 2021. He cautiously returned to White-ball Cricket for England this year following a prolonged period of elbow and back injuries.
He also secured an IPL 2025 deal with Rajasthan Royals suggests he’s being considered for England’s upcoming test series against India next year and the Ashes in Australia.
England Test captain Ben Stokes has indicated Archer is contemplating a return for Test cricket. The 29 year old fast bowler is reportedly interested in Participating in the One-off test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge scheduled to begin on May 22.
England Two-Year Central Contracts: Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Mark Wood (Durham)
England One-Year Central Contracts: Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Jack Leach (Somerset), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Reece Topley (Surrey), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
England Development contracts: Josh Hull (Leicestershire), John Turner (Hampshire)
