Ben Stokes signs new England central contract through 2027 Ashes

London, 5 November 2025:

England captain Ben Stokes has signed a new central contract that will keep him with the national side through the 2027 home Ashes series, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced Tuesday.

Stokes, 34, was among 14 players to agree to two-year deals, extending his previous contract that was due to expire next summer.

The list of multi-year signings includes fast bowler Jofra Archer, who secured an extended deal following his return to Test cricket.

The ECB said the new contracts reflect both recent performances and the upcoming international schedule, which includes the 2027 Ashes and the 50-over World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

All 16 players named in England’s squad for this month’s Ashes tour of Australia have been awarded central contracts of at least one year.

Eleven players, including Stokes, Archer, Joe Root and Harry Brook, received two-year deals. Four of the five who signed for one year, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Shoaib Bashir and Matthew Potts are single-format players, while 35-year-old seamer Mark Wood remains on the final year of a three-year contract he signed in 2023.

Stokes’ extension is notable given his injury history. The allrounder, currently recovering from a shoulder injury, is expected to be fit for the first Ashes Test in Perth on Nov. 21, which would mark his first appearance since July.

His new deal also aligns his tenure with that of head coach Brendon McCullum, whose contract runs through the 2027 World Cup.

All-rounder Jamie Overton earned his first central contract with a one-year deal after taking a break from red-ball cricket. First-time one-year contracts were also awarded to pace bowlers Sonny Baker, Saqib Mahmood and Luke Wood, and allrounder Liam Dawson.

Chris Woakes, who retired from international cricket last month, is no longer contracted. Jonny Bairstow’s two-year deal has expired, while spinner Jack Leach, allrounder Liam Livingstone, and fast bowlers Olly Stone and Reece Topley were not retained.

Emerging fast bowlers Josh Hull, Mitchell Stanley, Eddie Jack and Tom Lawes have been given development contracts.

England two-year central contracts:

Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire).

England one-year central contracts:

Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Zak Crawley (Kent), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Luke Wood (Lancashire), Mark Wood (Durham).

England development contracts:

Josh Hull (Leicestershire), Eddie Jack (Hampshire), Tom Lawes (Surrey), Mitchell Stanley (Lancashire).