England have confirmed a 39-player men’s contract list for the 2026-27 season, comprising 30 central contracts and nine development deals, with Jordan Cox and uncapped fast bowler Henry Crocombe among those handed two-year terms until 30 September 2028. The England and Wales Cricket Board announced the list on 12 October, also retaining Brydon Carse on his existing agreement while the Durham seamer’s Cricket Regulator case remains unresolved.
The central-contract group is the same size as last season’s, at 30 players, but the ECB has added a nine-player development cohort. That produces the 39-player overall list and gives England a broader formal group across red-ball and white-ball cricket than the headline central-contract number alone suggests.
The ECB said its decisions reflected both performances during the past year and the likelihood of players being involved across formats in the coming period. Eleven of the 30 central-contract players have two-year agreements, meaning just over one-third of the main group are secured through September 2028.
Seven players receive first central contracts
Tom Banton, Sam Cook, Cox, Crocombe, Emilio Gay, Matthew Fisher and Dan Lawrence have each been awarded a central contract for the first time. Ollie Robinson has returned to the list after previously holding central contracts in 2022 and 2023.
Cox and Crocombe have been given two-year contracts immediately. The ECB confirmed that Sonny Baker has also been upgraded to a two-year deal, joining established players including Test captain Joe Root, white-ball captain Harry Brook, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Josh Tongue on terms to 2028.
Crocombe’s deal is particularly notable because he has yet to make an international appearance. Sky Sports reported that he is the first England player to receive a multi-year agreement before making his debut. The Sussex seamer, who is due to join Surrey, could make his England bow during the ODI tri-series in Pakistan this month.
The ECB’s list also gives development contracts to James Coles, Mason Crane, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Liam Patterson-White, Thomas Rew, Matthew Revis and Mitch Stanley. Crane’s award comes in the week he is due to join an England squad for the first time in more than eight years, while the ECB identified 18-year-old Somerset wicketkeeper-batter Rew as the youngest player on the list.
Pope and Bashir retained, Crawley misses out
Ollie Pope and Shoaib Bashir have both retained central contracts for one year. Sky Sports reported that Pope has not played for England since losing his Test place during last winter’s Ashes, while Bashir featured in only two Tests over the past year. Their inclusion nevertheless keeps both within the contracted group as England prepare for the Test tour of South Africa.
Zak Crawley, whose previous deal had expired, has not been awarded a new contract. Sky Sports reported that left-arm seamer Luke Wood was the other senior player whose agreement was due to end without an extension. Crawley’s omission follows his loss of the England opening role, with Emilio Gay subsequently selected in the Test side.
The list shows where the ECB is committing longer-term security: Cox, Crocombe and Baker are among the newer or less-established names on two-year deals, while Pope, Bashir, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith and Robinson are on one-year terms.
Carse remains contracted as case continues
Carse remains under contract until the end of September 2027, having signed a two-year deal last year. He has not played for England since an incident outside a Derby nightclub in August and has since been charged by the Cricket Regulator with an alleged breach of ECB professional conduct regulations.
The BBC reported that Carse remains available for international selection. England men’s managing director Rob Key said the bowler could return to England duty depending on the outcome of the regulatory process. That position preserves Carse’s contractual status but does not settle when, or whether, he will next be selected.
Separate coaching teams confirmed
The ECB announced the contracts alongside its coaching structure. Stephen Fleming’s Test staff will include Richard Dawson, Marcus Trescothick, James Foster and Eric Simons, while Brendon McCullum’s white-ball group will include Sarah Taylor, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee and Kevin Pietersen in his specialist mentor role.
Mike Yardy has been appointed Elite National Batting Lead and Dawson will also serve as Elite National Spin Bowling Lead. The staffing arrangements will begin with England’s forthcoming Test tour of South Africa and white-ball tour of Australia, giving the expanded contracted group defined coaching structures in each format.