The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the updated England Women’s Central Contract list, with Durham’s Lauren Filer and Bess Heath awarded contracts.
Filer has been awarded a 1 year full central contract after being on development contracts last year, while Bess Heath has earned a development contract.
17 players have been awarded full contracts with seven players given two-year contracts and 10 players receiving one-year contracts.
Additionally, three England development contracts have been awarded to players the England Women’s management team feel will play a pivotal role for the team in the future, enabling the ECB to support them further over the next 12 months, which includes Durham wicket-keeper Bess Heath.
Seamer Ryana MacDonald-Gay, who made her ODI and IT20 debuts for England against Ireland earlier this year and has been selected in England’s Test squad on the current tour of South Africa, is among the trio.
*England Women: Two-year central contracts: Lauren Bell (Hampshire), Charlie Dean (Somerset), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Amy Jones (The Blaze), Heather Knight (Somerset), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey)
*England Women: One-year central contracts*: Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze), Maia Bouchier (Hampshire), Alice Capsey (Surrey), Kate Cross (Lancashire), Sophia Dunkley (Surrey), Lauren Filer (Durham), Mahika Gaur (Lancashire), Danielle Gibson (Somerset), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Freya Kemp (Hampshire)
*England Women: Skills / development contracts*: Bess Heath (Durham), Ryana MacDonald-Gay (Surrey), Issy Wong (Warwickshire)
Managing Director of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor said: “As ever, we have awarded central contracts to the players we feel will play a significant role for England in the foreseeable future.
“We are delighted that Mahika Gaur and Lauren Filer have transitioned on to full contracts, having been part of our group over the past year.
“Ryana MacDonald-Gay has had an outstanding year, and the development contract affords her the opportunity to continue to push her claim for selection. We look forward to working with all three players on development contracts and their Counties to ensure they continue their development.
“We have another significant period of cricket ahead and we believe this group of players have the skills to be successful in all conditions and formats which will be essential as we look forward to a two-year period that includes the Women’s Ashes in early 2025, multiple bilateral series, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India, and a home ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the summer of 2026.
“This is another landmark year in terms of increased remuneration for England Women. We have been able to make another significant increase in the value of central contracts on the back of last year’s equalisation of men’s and women’s international match fees across all formats. We continue to work positively with the England Women’s Player Partnership (EWPP) and the PCA and are grateful for both their support and challenge in these matters.”
England Women’s Player Partnership Management Board Member, *Emma Reid*, said: “EWPP and the PCA are really encouraged at the progression of standards within the Women’s Central Contracts, achieved through strong collaboration between the ECB and player representatives.
“It is positive to see multi-year agreements, showing long term commitment from the ECB and also the players who continue to prioritise representing their country.
“We are pleased to have worked with the ECB and the players to achieve the priorities of being well supported in their England careers.”
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