England announce 39-player contract list for 2026-27

The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed an expanded group of centrally contracted men’s players for the 2026-27 season, announced on Monday 12 October. The list grows to 39 players, comprising 30 central contracts and nine development deals, up from the previous 30-player pool.

Eleven players, including Test captain Joe Root and white-ball captain Harry Brook, are given two-year contracts through to 30 September 2028. In an unprecedented move for an uncapped player, pace bowler Henry Crocombe is also given a two-year deal. Sonny Baker has been upgraded to a two-year deal, while Jordan Cox and Crocombe have also signed two-year contracts.

Robinson returns, new faces added

Ollie Robinson returns to the central contract list after missing out for the past two years, rewarded following his superb return to the Test team in the home summer. The 32-year-old last held a central contract in 2023.

Tom Banton, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe, Emilio Gay, Matthew Fisher and Dan Lawrence have earned central contracts for the first time. Ollie Robinson’s recall comes alongside the first-time central deals.

Along with Crocombe, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Dan Lawrence, Tom Banton, Sam Cook and Matthew Fisher are given full central contracts for the first time. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir keeps his deal and is the only specialist red-ball spinner on the list.

Carse retained amid investigation

The 31-year-old Brydon Carse is among the 39 players named. The two-year deal he was given last year runs until autumn 2027. Carse is available for England selection but has not been part of a squad since the Derby incident in August as he takes time away from international cricket.

Carse was arrested then de-arrested in August, with Derbyshire Police subsequently taking no action over allegations of an assault. The pace bowler has since been charged by the Cricket Regulator with breaching England and Wales Cricket Board professional conduct rules.

Director of cricket Rob Key believes Carse can play for England again. Asked if he can see a situation where the Durham man plays for England again, Key told the Test Match Special podcast:

"Yeah, I can do, depending what happens with the outcome of that [the Regulator charge]. Myself, like a lot of people who work for the ECB, you get in these jobs to make some decisions that help English cricket and you also want players to be able to maximise their potential and have great careers. You don't get in them to sit on calls about all the things that have happened off the field over the last bit."

Key added:

"As far as Brydon Carse is concerned, we'll find out what happens in the near future, and there's a chance he can come back and play for England."

When asked if a lack of extension for Carse revealed England's feelings on his international future, Key replied: "No. I think it means if he gets a chance to come back and play for England he's got to try to maximise his career and be the best bowler he possibly can be. That investigation is going on with the Regulator. I don't know a lot about what happens in that investigation, because that is with them and we deal with that afterwards."

Before the Derby incident, Carse had not played for England since the Ashes in January because of a wrist injury. Prior to the injury, he was an international regular across formats and was the only England seamer to play in all five Tests in Australia.

Development contracts and coaching structure

The development list includes James Coles, Mason Crane, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Liam Patterson-White, Thomas Rew, Matthew Revis and Mitch Stanley. Rew, who captained England's Under-19 side to the final of the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, is the youngest player on the development list at 18. 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.

England also confirmed new-look backroom teams underneath Test head coach Stephen Fleming and white-ball counterpart Brendon McCullum. Fleming has brought in Richard Dawson, alongside former England wicketkeeper James Foster and South African Eric Simons. Marcus Trescothick, who took interim charge of the Test team for the home series against Pakistan, remains with the red-ball team.

McCullum keeps the bulk of the staff who worked with him across formats: Sarah Taylor, Jeetan Patel and Tim Southee. Kevin Pietersen will also work with the white-ball teams in the run-up to the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa next year. The ECB also confirmed Mike Yardy appointed Elite National Batting Lead and Richard Dawson taking up the role of Elite National Spin Bowling Lead, with Troy Cooley continuing as Elite National Pace Bowling Lead.

The expanded group is a result of high-earners like Ben Stokes and Mark Wood retiring from international cricket and freeing up space in the budget. Former Test captain Ben Stokes, who was offered a two-year deal, is not part of this year's list having retired from international cricket earlier this summer.

England centrally contracted players 2026-27

Joe Root, Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Matthew Fisher, Will Jacks, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Ollie Robinson, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.

England development contract list 2026-27

James Coles, Mason Crane, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Liam Patterson-White, Thomas Rew, Matthew Revis, Mitch Stanley.