Moeen, Jordan among six new central contracts

The ECB has awarded central contracts to six new players, bringing the number up to 12 for 2014-15. England have brought in several new faces over the last year and that regeneration is reflected in Moeen Ali, Gary Ballance, Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes being contracted for the first time.

Steven Finn is also retained, having barely played during the past 12 months. Finn's technical problems meant he returned home from the Ashes tour without playing a game and he only returned to international cricket in August, during the ODIs against India.

All of the six new centrally contracted players took part in England's most recent Test series, against India, as well as being involved in the subsequent one-day series. With the focus turning to the World Cup at the start of a packed 2015 which also includes a home Ashes, England have upped the number from 11 last year.

Five players have been awarded increment contracts, with Ravi Bopara's inclusion hinting at a possible recall ahead of England's World Cup campaign.

Players left off the previous list include Graeme Swann, now retired, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior and Tim Bresnan. Pietersen was effectively sacked in the wake of England's disastrous Ashes tour, which also saw Trott return home with a stress-related illness - although he has begun to show some of his old form with Warwickshire. Prior stood down from England duty during the summer due to an Achilles injury, which eventually required surgery, while Bresnan has not played since the World T20.

Notably absent is Sam Robson, who opened in all seven Tests alongside Alastair Cook but failed to fully convince. England do not play their next Test until April and Robson is expected to face competition for his place from Yorkshire's Adam Lyth, with both potential Lions tourists in South Africa over the winter.

After losing 12-1 across all formats in Australia, leading to the Andy Flower stepping down as team director, and a disappointing World T20, Peter Moores was brought in for a second spell as head coach. Defeat to Sri Lanka in the early part of the summer was followed by a 3-1 Test series win over India, although optimism has since been tempered by England's continued struggles in ODI cricket.

"The awarding of contracts enables the selectors and team management to plan for the next 12 months of international cricket," James Whitaker, the national selector, said. "We have been hugely encouraged by the rapid development of a host of younger players in the last year and this is reflected in a total of six players being awarded 12-month central contracts for the first time."

England central contracts: Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Alastair Cook (Essex),Steven Finn (Middlesex), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

England increment contracts: Ravi Bopara (Essex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), James Tredwell (Kent)