Twelve Players win ECB'S first England Contracts

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced that twelve players had been awarded England contracts to cover this summer's Cornhill Test series against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.

The twelve, who all receive six-month contracts, are: Nasser Hussain (Capt), Michael Atherton, Andrew Caddick, Andrew Flintoff, Darren Gough, Dean Headley, Graeme Hick, Mark Ramprakash, Chris Schofield, Alec Stewart, Michael Vaughan and Craig White.

The Board will also contract a squad of fourteen One-Day players for this summer's NatWest Series against Zimbabwe and West Indies and their names will be announced in due course. The timing of this announcement will be discussed at the next meeting of the England Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) on April 12.

The introduction of England contracts brings players under the central control of the ECB and the England team management for the first time. Players will:

The Board has set aside in the region of £750,000 to cover the additional costs incurred by England Test and ODI contracts. Non-contracted players will still be eligible for selection for the England team and will be paid on a match-fee basis as under the present system.

Announcing the award of England contracts, the Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: "This is a balanced squad which combines a number of experienced Test cricketers with younger players who showed promise on the winter tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

"Chris Schofield's selection reflects our need to develop a quality wrist-spinner at Test level. Chris performed well with the 'A' team in Bangladesh and New Zealand in the winter and he will be very much in contention for a place in this summer's Test series.

"Mark Ramprakash's recall will give us more options at the top of the batting order. Mark has batted at three for England before and consideration will be given to him fulfilling the opening role.

"Craig White has played Test cricket before and deserves the chance to do so again after making a real impact in the One-Day series in South Africa and Zimbabwe. He will compete with Andrew Flintoff for the all-rounder's role in the side although there may be occasions when we will want to choose both players in the same eleven. "

The England Head Coach Duncan Fletcher said: "The most encouraging aspect of this winter's tour was the way in which the team gelled as a unit and the progress made by a number of younger players. England contracts should enable us to build on this team spirit and work more closely with the players on their technique and fitness.

"While centrally contracted players will clearly form the nucleus of our team, the door to the England dressing room remains open to other players performing consistently well in County cricket. We can - and will - pick non-contracted players on a match-by-match basis where their record suggests they can succeed at international level."

The ECB's International Teams Director, Mr Simon Pack said: "Centrally contracting international players has worked successfully in other leading Test-playing countries such as South Africa and Australia and we believe it can help the England team be more consistent.

"England Contracts will give the England Management team more control over fitness and training programmes, foster a greater sense of unity amongst the players and promote the development of a settled team behind which the cricket-loving public can unite.

"Contracted players will be available to their Counties for the Benson and Hedges Cup and NatWest Trophy competitions. While we anticipate that contracted players will continue to play a certain amount of cricket in the PPP healthcare County Championship and CGU National Cricket League, Duncan Fletcher will be able to rest players from these competitions when appropriate."

NOTES

* Australia contract 25 players centrally on one-two year contracts. South Africa contract 20 players centrally on one-year contracts.