Eoin Morgan awarded central contract by ECB
England one-day and Twenty20 captain Eoin Morgan has been awarded a central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board along with 10 other English cricketers reported BBC Sport. Mark Wood the Durham fast bowler has got a central contract for the first time.
The ECB has also awarded eight incremental contracts along with the 11 central contracts for the 2015-16 season. Gray Ballance, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan are few of the players who have been given an increment, they held full central contracts for the 2014-15 season.
Ravi Bopara, Adam Lyth and James Treadwell who held incremental contracts for the 2014-15 season have been left off the new list.
England are to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in October and November, then they tour South Africa in the winter before the World Twenty20 which will be held in India in March and April.
"Eoin Morgan's award reflects his status as captain of our limited-overs teams and the wider importance we place on white-ball cricket," said ECB director of cricket Andrew Strauss. He also congratulated Mark Wood on his first central contract, Strauss went on to add that Wood’s performances in the past this was because of his excellent performances over the past few months, and that they are expecting a lot out of him over the next 12 months, "We congratulate Mark Wood on winning a central contract for the first time.”
"This award reflects his excellent performances for England this summer and our expectation that he will have a role to play in all three formats of the international game over the next 12 months, said Strauss".
Centrally contracted players: Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Alastair Cook (Essex), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Mark Wood (Durham).
Players awarded Increment: Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire)
Eoin Morgan & Mark Wood are two of 11 players given a central contract by the ECB. http://t.co/Xqz1eG4Fpa pic.twitter.com/U6UFW2hBhS
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 23, 2015
Durham bowler @MAWood33 awarded an @ECB_cricket Central contract for first time #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/XzG2yv3rC8
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) September 23, 2015