England batter Jacob Bethell has been awarded a central contract upgrade by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following his promising test debut against New Zealand in Christchurch. Bethell has signed a two-year extension that secures his spot until September 2026.
The 21-year-old, who was on a development contract as recently as last month, impressed in England’s eight-wicket victory. While scoring 10 in the first innings, Bethell showcased his talent with a maiden half-century in the second innings, helping England take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series.
Extended Central Contracts
The ECB has also announced two-year central contract extensions for fast bowlers Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Matthew Potts, all running through September 2026.
Full List of Contracts
Two-Year Central Contracts (Until September 2026):
- Jofra Archer
- Gus Atkinson
- Jacob Bethell
- Harry Brook
- Jos Buttler
- Brydon Carse
- Matthew Potts
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith
- Ben Stokes
- Mark Wood
One-Year Central Contracts:
- Rehan Ahmed
- Jonny Bairstow
- Shoaib Bashir
- Zak Crawley
- Sam Curran
- Ben Duckett
- Will Jacks
- Jack Leach
- Liam Livingstone
- Ollie Pope
- Adil Rashid
- Phil Salt
- Olly Stone
- Josh Tongue
- Reece Topley
- Chris Woakes
Development Contracts:
- Josh Hull
- John Turner
Bethell’s rise from a development contract to a central contract marks a significant milestone in his young career, reflecting his potential as a key player for England in the coming years.
