Stokes agrees new two-year England contract

Ben Stokes has agreed a new two-year England central contract.

Last year, the Test captain turned down a three-year deal when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) offered multi-year contracts for the first time. Stokes signed on for just 12 months.

On Saturday, Stokes confirmed his new deal will take him through to 2026, including the away Ashes in Australia next winter.

The 33-year-old has been ruled out of England’s first Test against Pakistan with a hamstring injury.

England are in the process of offering new contracts and extensions to players, who will then decide whether or not to accept them.

Some 18 players signed multi-year deals 12 months ago, so remain under contract. The ECB introduced multi-year contracts mainly to ward off interest from franchise leagues.

Stokes was one of eight players who signed on for one year and are now out of contract.

At the time, England managing director Rob Key explained Stokes was holding off on committing because a new memorandum of understanding was due to be agreed, potentially increasing the value of contracts.

The memorandum of understanding dictates the terms of contracts and is linked to the cycle of TV broadcast deals. A new broadcast cycle begins in 2025 and central contracts have been improved as a result.

Of the other seven players to sign one-year deals last year, James Anderson, Moeen Ali and Dawid Malan have all retired from international cricket, and Ben Foakes and Ollie Robinson have been dropped. Only Jack Leach and Reece Topley appear to be candidates for new contracts.

Jamie Smith and Shoaib Bashir are in line for central contracts for the first time after becoming regulars in the Test side. Jonny Bairstow still has a year left on his deal, despite not playing for England since the T20 World Cup in June.

England’s three-match series in Pakistan begins on Monday and Stokes will miss a fourth Test since injuring his hamstring playing for Northern Superchargers at the beginning of August. Ollie Pope continues to deputise as captain.

England won 3-0 in Pakistan two years ago, but are without the three pace bowlers who played on that tour. Aside from Anderson and Robinson, Mark Wood is injured.

In their absence, Chris Woakes will play his first Test in Asia since 2016, Gus Atkinson will feature in his first away Test and Brydon Carse makes his Test debut.

It seems set to be a gruelling challenge for England’s seamers. Though the Multan surface looks likely to have a green tinge, the temperature will be around 36 degrees.

“There are no doubts in my mind about the bowlers we have picked,” said Stokes. “We know they will be able to withstand that heat.

“It takes character and we have a lot of characters in our dressing room who will be willing to stand up to the challenge of playing Test cricket out here.”