Cricket Dec 07, 2025

Jacob Bethell rewarded with two-year England central contract as Jonny Bairstow and Jack Leach miss out

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Jacob Bethell rewarded with two-year England central contract as Jonny Bairstow and Jack Leach miss out

Jacob Bethell has been rewarded with a two-year central contract with England.

The 22-year-old, who was previously on a development deal, is among 30 players given central contracts after his impressive breakthrough at international level, including becoming England men's youngest captain for the T20 series against Ireland in September.

Rob Key, the managing director of England men's cricket, said: "This year's central contract group reflects the depth and strength of talent we have across England men's cricket."

Fast bowler Jofra Archer has also had his deal extended from a one-year contract to a two-year contract following his return to action from long-term injuries, but Jonny Bairstow and Jack Leach missed out.

Bethell made his senior England debut in a T20 match against Australia in September 2024 and was subsequently named in the Test squad for the tour of New Zealand, where he made a quick-fire half-century.

Prior to captaining England to two wins over Ireland, the Warwickshire star scored his maiden professional century in a one-day international against South Africa.

Bethell is one of 14 men given two-year contracts, with all those being players who represent England in more than one format.

Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley, who only play in Tests, are among those on one-year contracts, with Sonny Baker, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton and Luke Wood the newly-contracted players in this category.

Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Tom Lawes and Mitchell Stanley are the four players on development contracts.

Key added: "We have awarded two-year deals to our multi-format players so we can manage their workloads responsibly and give them the stability they need to perform across formats.

"We have also secured a number of white-ball players on longer agreements to help us plan effectively around the growing franchise calendar and ensure England remains their priority.

"This structure allows us to support our players properly while maintaining strong squads across all formats as much as possible."

England Two-Year Central Contracts (30 September 2027)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

England One-Year Central Contracts (30 September 2026)
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Sonny Baker (Hampshire)*
Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Liam Dawson (Hampshire)*
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)*
Jamie Overton (Surrey)*
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Luke Wood (Lancashire)*
Mark Wood (Durham)

*Denotes newly centrally contracted player for 2025

England Development Contracts
Josh Hull (Leicestershire)
Eddie Jack (Hampshire)
Tom Lawes (Surrey)
Mitchell Stanley (Lancashire)

Tags:

cricket news id:13463670

Share this article

Related Posts

England drop Zak Crawley, recall Ollie Robinson and name three uncapped players in refreshed squad for first New Zealand Test

England drop Zak Crawley, recall Ollie Robinson and name three uncapped players in refreshed squad for first New Zealand Test

Zak Crawley has been dropped and Ollie Robinson recalled in a new-look England squad that features three uncapped players for next month's first Test...

England vs New Zealand: White Ferns level ODI series with 17-run win in rain-soaked Cardiff

England vs New Zealand: White Ferns level ODI series with 17-run win in rain-soaked Cardiff

England missed out on a series victory over New Zealand as the tourists won a rain-affected third ODI in Cardiff by 17 runs via DLS to level the serie...

Tilly Corteen-Coleman: England's 18-year-old spinner and her 'nerves of steel' state the case for T20 World Cup starting spot

Tilly Corteen-Coleman: England's 18-year-old spinner and her 'nerves of steel' state the case for T20 World Cup starting spot

Tilly Corteen-Coleman has enjoyed quite the couple of months: a ÂŁ105,000 Hundred contract secured in March, a call-up to England's T20 World Cup squad...

England Women's big summer of cricket: Charlotte Edwards' side to play first-ever Test at Lord's ahead of T20 World Cup

England Women's big summer of cricket: Charlotte Edwards' side to play first-ever Test at Lord's ahead of T20 World Cup

It is gearing up to be a monumental summer for Charlotte Edwards and England's Women's cricket side.Games are coming thick and fast ahead of this year...

County Championship: Ben Stokes pours more misery on axed England Test team-mate Zak Crawley

County Championship: Ben Stokes pours more misery on axed England Test team-mate Zak Crawley

Ben Stokes poured more misery on axed England Test team-mate Zak Crawley but Kent got on top against Durham at Beckenham in the County Championship on...

Charlotte Edwards opens up on "tough decision" to omit Tammy Beaumont from England Women's T20 World Cup squad

Charlotte Edwards opens up on "tough decision" to omit Tammy Beaumont from England Women's T20 World Cup squad

Charlotte Edwards has opened up on the “tough decision” to omit Tammy Beaumont from England’s upcoming Women's T20 World Cup squad but revealed she co...