England Test captain Ben Stokes throws a ball throughout an Ashes Test
Test captain Ben Stokes stays committed to England lengthy-time period despite turning down a three-year contract, says managing director Rob Key.
Stokes, 32, has signed a one-yr central contract extension as an alternative.
Key mentioned Stokes did so as a result of he feels he can negotiate a greater deal subsequent yr when a brand new cycle of broadcast rights begins.
“By no means is it Ben Stokes saying, ‘I do not need to play for England’,” Key informed BBC Sport.
“All he talks about is being fully committed to taking part in for England and in addition captaining that Test crew – planning for India, planning for the Ashes, planning for West Indies and Sri Lanka subsequent summer time.
“I do not assume it has crossed his thoughts not taking part in for England for the subsequent 4, 5, six years.”
England introduced their first multi-yr contracts contracts on Tuesday, offers that are seen as a technique to beat back curiosity in gamers from franchise leagues.
Joe Root, Harry Brook and Mark Wood are the one gamers to signal three-year offers, whereas 41-yr-previous bowler James Anderson has, like Stokes, signed for one yr.
The format of England’s central contracts is tied to the published deal, which means more cash could also be accessible and gamers’ value is perhaps calculated otherwise subsequent yr.
Players that comply with their offers now will keep on these phrases.
“Ben, fairly rightly, feels when the subsequent memorandum of understanding begins and the contract cycle adjustments he shall be in a stronger place,” added managing director of England males’s cricket Key.
“Other gamers have gone for that safety.”
All-rounder Stokes, who has led the Test facet since April 2022, got here out of 1-day worldwide retirement for the continuing 50-over World Cup, however is just taking part in as a batter due to an extended-standing knee harm.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer, despite his harm points, and spinner Adil Rashid, 35, are amongst these on two-yr offers, which additionally consists of restricted-overs captain Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow.
In complete, the England and Wales Cricket Board has given out 18 multi-yr offers, along with eight lasting one yr and three growth contracts.
Spinner Rehan Ahmed, tempo bowlers Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts and Josh Tongue and batter Ben Duckett have signed their first England contracts – all on two-yr offers.
Also on two-yr offers are Test opener Zak Crawley, batter Ollie Pope, plus all-rounders Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone and Chris Woakes.
Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, who was dropped for the Ashes collection in the summertime, all-rounder Moeen Ali, spinner Jack Leach, batter Dawid Malan and bowlers Ollie Robinson and Reece Topley be a part of Stokes and Anderson on one-yr contracts.
Saqib Mahmood, at the moment out with a second again stress fracture in two years, Hampshire seamer John Turner and Yorkshire fast Matthew Fisher have been given growth contracts.
The offers are backdated to start out from 1 October 2023.
Key mentioned England could have management over their multi-yr gamers when there are clashes within the schedule, though it is not going to imply they don’t play any franchise cricket.
“What the multi-yr offers have executed is get gamers to decide to England for the foreseeable future – that may be a incredible factor,” he added.
Jason Roy, who was dropped from England’s 50-over World Cup squad for Brook, doesn’t have a contract after he ended his deal in May to play within the American T20 Major League Cricket.
Left-armer David Willey, at the moment a part of England’s World Cup squad, has misplaced his deal, as have tempo bowlers Craig Overton, Jamie Overton and Olly Stone, who all had growth offers final yr.
Stuart Broad is the opposite participant not contracted from 2022-23 following his retirement after the ultimate Ashes Test.
Three-year contracts: Harry Brook, Joe Root, Mark Wood
Two-year contracts: Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes
One-year contracts: Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley
Development contract: Matthew Fisher, Saqib Mahmood, John Turner
