Shortly after Australia announced long-term deals for their top male athletes, England has done the same. The contrast? Pat Cummins has committed to representing his nation until the upcoming Ashes series in Australia, while Ben Stokes, his counterpart as Test captain, has not made a similar commitment.

Stokes has made a noteworthy decision, independent of Australia and Cummins. Amid the popularity of local Twenty20 leagues, the England and Wales Cricket Board has modified its yearly contract structure to secure top talent for an extended period. Despite being given a three-year contract offer and a mysterious knee injury, Stokes has only agreed to terms for the next 12 months.

Timing appears to be the main factor. With a fresh memorandum of understanding between the ECB and the players due next year, in line with the next broadcast deal, Stokes is waiting to see how things pan out; whether the money on offer and his own market value will increase in the meantime. He has, it should be said, stated recently that England’s next bid to regain the Ashes in 2025-26, when he will be 34, is very much on his radar. Rob Key, the team director, sounds reassured here.

There are a few potential changes that may benefit Stokes even more if they are implemented. First, there is speculation that Indian Premier League teams may begin offering contracts to play in both their main team and their satellite teams globally, making them the main employer of the players. Additionally, there is a common belief that Saudi Arabia is planning to establish its own T20 league with potentially higher financial incentives than the Indian Premier League.

The ECB emphasized that all players who were offered contracts have signed them, except for Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, and Jofra Archer who requested shorter terms due to their two-year contract. Despite the duration of the contract, the players will receive generous salaries ranging from £150,000 to £900,000 before factoring in match fees. Additionally, the ECB is not expected to restrict any player from participating in the main IPL, which now has an unofficial window.

The new multiyear strategy is evident in the three-year contracts given to three players. Joe Root’s impressive record of 11,416 Test runs has earned him recognition and sets his sights on the upcoming Ashes tour. Harry Brook’s potential in all formats is acknowledged through his contract at the age of 24, as he has proved his appeal to T20 teams with his strong performance.

Mark Wood is the third and, approaching 34 with a patchy track record as regards fitness, may raise some eyebrows. But the 95mph pace that lit up the Ashes this summer endures and England fancy it need not necessarily dip if managed well. An eye‑watering sum of money in the awful UAE-based ILT20 has also been trumped, marking it down as an early win for the concept of locking down players – particularly fast bowlers – for longer.

The breakdown of two-year and one-year contracts provides insight into a player’s status among selectors, their age, and their popularity in the domestic T20 market. However, despite his success as a red-ball player with 76 Test wickets at 22 years old, Ollie Robinson may question why he was only given a 12-month contract, especially with Stuart Broad’s retirement. With England already having 13 seamers and showing patience with Jofra Archer, they may see 29-year-old Robinson as needing more motivation.

The distribution of 12 central contracts in 2000 marked a significant shift, according to Nasser Hussain, from the previous practice of players returning to their county teams after a Test match and relying on the radio for news of their selection for the next squad. While the contracts were not much more valuable than a county deal, they were effective in regulating player workload, promoting physical fitness, and fostering a mindset focused on playing for England.

The amount of deals available has increased, similar to the amount of money, since they were temporarily divided during England’s success in limited overs cricket. This recent restructuring is the most notable change, highlighting the new option for players to pursue a different career path. However, it may only serve as a temporary solution until a new system is developed in the next year.

Stokes is confident that it is a good idea for the Test captain to strive for regaining the Ashes, but he is also optimistic enough to observe how the overall situation evolves beforehand.

Source: theguardian.com