Ben Stokes signs two-year deal as ECB reveals central contracts
England Test captain and star all-rounder Ben Stokes has signed a new two-year central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), strongly hinting that he intends to lead the side into the 2027 Ashes series on home soil.
The 34-year-old has cut back on his playing schedule due to persistent injuries, featuring only in Test cricket over the past year. Hamstring and shoulder problems have limited his availability, and he hasn’t played white-ball cricket for England since November 2023. Still, this fresh deal confirms that Stokes has no immediate plans to retire from international cricket.
Head coach Brendon McCullum, whose own deal runs until 2027, is expected to continue his successful partnership with Stokes. Since their collaboration began in mid-2022, England have recorded 25 wins and 14 defeats in Tests, though they are yet to secure a series win over one of the “Big Three” — Australia, India, or England.
The ECB unveiled its updated list of men’s central contracts on Tuesday, highlighting the continued evolution of the national setup. Stokes is among 14 players to receive two-year contracts, while another 12 have signed one-year extensions, and four young seamers have been placed on development deals.
Rob Key, England’s Director of Men’s Cricket, praised the structure, calling it a reflection of the “depth and strength of English cricket.” The multi-year contract model, introduced in 2023, is designed to manage player workloads and discourage players from prioritizing franchise leagues.
Five players have earned their first-ever central contracts — Sonny Baker, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, and Luke Wood.
However, some big names are missing from the new list. Jonny Bairstow, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, and Chris Woakes (who has since retired) were not offered fresh deals.
Key extensions include Adil Rashid, set to continue until at least the 2027 ODI World Cup, and Sam Curran, who returns with a two-year contract after falling out of white-ball contention earlier in 2025. Jos Buttler has also committed to two more years despite stepping down as white-ball captain.
Several Test regulars — including Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Shoaib Bashir, and Mark Wood — have been offered one-year deals, keeping their futures under review ahead of the next Ashes cycle.
Development contracts were awarded to Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Tom Lawes, and Mitchell Stanley, while John Turner lost his deal due to a back stress fracture.
Notable omissions include Tom Banton and Jordan Cox, who featured in recent squads but were left out this year.
England Men’s Central Contracts (2025/26)
Two-year contracts (until Sept 30, 2027):
Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes, Josh Tongue
One-year contracts (until Sept 30, 2026):
Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Phil Salt, Luke Wood, Mark Wood
Development contracts:
Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Tom Lawes, Mitchell Stanley
Lapsed contracts:
Jonny Bairstow, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, John Turner
