Bopara, Kieswetter and Dernbach earn contracts

Ravi Bopara, Jade Dernbach and Craig Kieswetter have been awarded increment contracts by the ECB following their performances during the English season, reinforcing the fact they are a key part of the team's plans for the future.

All three are currently in India ahead of the one-day series although Kieswetter is still with Somerset, who are in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Kieswetter regained his England place for the series against Sri Lanka earlier this year having been dropped during the 2010 summer which led to him missing the World Cup. He played all 11 one-day internationals against Sri Lanka, India and Ireland, scoring 354 runs at 35.40, and also appeared in four Twenty20s.

Bopara, meanwhile, revived his international career with an impressive one-day series against India having also broken back into the Test side following Jonathan Trott's shoulder injury. He was England's leading scorer as they beat India 3-0 with 197 runs at 65.66, including a career-best 96 in the tied match at Lord's.

Dernbach, 25, made his England debut in the Twenty20 against Sri Lanka, at Bristol, and has quickly established himself as a key member of both limited-overs teams with some impressive displays. He helped seal the one-day series against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford and then took 4 for 22 in the T20 against India at the same venue. He also starred in the ODI against Ireland and in the two end-of-season T20s involving West Indies.

Increment contracts come with far less financial reward than the full central contracts handed out each year by the ECB but are a good guide as to which players have made the most significant strides. Players can also be upgraded to increment deals during a 12-month period if they build up enough international appearances.