No surprises as England name central contracts

Tim Bresnan has been rewarded for his unbeaten start to Test cricket, while Kevin Pietersen's one-day future appears to be secure despite his current break from the squad, after the England selectors announced that 13 players have been awarded 12-month central contracts for 2011-12.

The list, which has been expanded from the 11 names who were rewarded in 2010-11, includes every player who featured in the victorious Ashes campaign in Australia last winter, with the exception of Paul Collingwood who announced his Test retirement during the Sydney Test.

Collingwood's place has been taken by Eoin Morgan, who cemented his Test berth during the summer series against Sri Lanka and India, and whose seniority within the squad was acknowledged when he captained the one-day side for their one-off encounter with Ireland last month.

He is one of three new names on the list, alongside Bresnan and Chris Tremlett, who played pivotal roles in the latter stages of the Ashes, but who found themselves competing for a solitary place during the home season, such is the current strength of England's fast-bowling resources.

Tremlett, who claimed a career-best 6 for 48 against Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl in June, featured in just one of the four Tests against India before succumbing to a back injury, whereupon Bresnan once again demonstrated his allround worth with 16 wickets in three appearances, as well as a crucial 90 in the victory at Trent Bridge. He currently boasts a 100% record in his ten Tests to date.

As captain of the Test team, Andrew Strauss retains his full contract despite retiring from one-day cricket, but the fact that Pietersen is also on the list suggests that the rumours of his impending ODI retirement, which first surfaced during the World Cup, are wide of the mark. He has played no part in the current series against India, despite Morgan's absence to a shoulder injury.

"I am delighted that Tim Bresnan, Eoin Morgan and Chris Tremlett have all been awarded 12-month central contracts for the first time," said the national selector, Geoff Miller. "Central contracts are designed to reward players who perform well consistently for England and all three have made significant contributions to the team's recent success in retaining the Ashes in Australia and beating Sri Lanka and India at home.

"Following his retirement from Test cricket, Paul Collingwood is no longer eligible for a 12-month central contract. We will determine those players eligible for incremental contracts in due course."

Central contract list James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, Jonathan Trott.