What are ECB central contracts and how do they work?

BBC Sport explains how ECB central contracts work and what it means for a player's salary

By Jonty Colman · BBC Sport

Published: Monday, 19 October 2026 at 10:01 AM

Key Things to Know

ECB central contracts make the governing body the primary employer of top players to manage workloads and conditioning.
The ECB issued 39 men's central contracts for the 2026-27 season, comprising 30 full and nine development deals.
Centrally contracted players receive most or all of their salaries directly from the ECB rather than county teams.

The Story in 60 Seconds

The England and Wales Cricket Board uses central contracts to serve as the primary employer for leading players, granting direct control over player workloads, coaching, and injury recovery. Recently, the ECB awarded 39 men's contracts for the 2026-27 season, consisting of 30 full contracts and nine development deals.

Central contracts are multiformat agreements designed to reward top performers and invest in future talent across both men's and women's cricket. While development contracts provide a pay increase split with counties, players who lose their central deals, such as Kent batter Zak Crawley, return to being fully funded by their respective counties.

Read the full article on BBC Sport

What are ECB central contracts and how do they work?

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