Jofra Archer handed first ECB central contract

Archer has received both Test and white-ball contracts for the 2019-20 season, and is one of only six players to receive contracts for all formats. This is the latest chapter in Archer’s meteoric rise since making his England debut in May – he was their highest wicket-taker in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, and also took 22 wickets in four matches, including two six-wicket hauls, during the Ashes.

There were 22 central contracts handed out in all, with Rory Burns and Joe Denly also awarded contracts. However, Moeen Ali, the off-spinner, was excluded from the Tests list as was Adil Rashid – both had all-format contracts last year.

Burns made his case for a Test contract after impressing as an opener during the Ashes, while Denly, despite missing out on the World Cup at the last minute, was handed a white-ball contract, after showing improvement during the Ashes.

There were no contracts at all for all of Alex Hales, who failed a drugs Test ahead of the World Cup, Liam Plunkett and David Willey.

Test contracts: James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.

Limited-overs contracts: Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Joe Denly, Eoin Morgan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood