The England and Wales Cricket Board, or ECB, has released the England Women Central Contracts for the 2023–2024 season. A total of eighteen players have been given one-year contracts. Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson have secured their first central contracts, while bowlers Mahika Gaur and Lauren Filer, as well as wicketkeeper-batter Bess Heath, have been granted development contracts. These contracts are given to support players who the board believes will be crucial to the growth of women’s cricket in the nation.
The contracts mentioned above expire on October 31, 2024. Several additional provisions have been added to the contracts to help the players, including wage parity with England’s men’s squad, bonuses for winning against teams of a higher caliber, and developments in compensation that include an expanded entitlement to family provision.
Amy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt can be found on the England Women Central Contract List.
List of England Women development contract holders: Mahika Gaur, Lauren Filer, and Bess Heath
Director of England Women’s Cricket Jonathan Finch stated, “The players we feel will play a significant role over the next 12 months and beyond are awarded the Central Contracts.” “The group represents the demands of the multi-format schedule we confront as we begin an unprecedentedly hectic season of international cricket.
Danielle Gibson and Maia Bouchier joined our group throughout the summer, did a great job, and will be key players for England going forward. We will collaborate closely with the regions to oversee the players’ workloads and continued development, and the introduction of development contracts is a critical step that will enable us to help a larger group of players in their ongoing development.
“After a record-breaking Ashes summer, we have a really exciting 12 months of cricket ahead and we feel this group of players will form the foundations of our side that will take us through various bilateral series, and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”