England has unveiled the list it thinks can dethrone Australia in next year’s Ashes, and one well-known name is missing.
The career of opener Zak Crawley is on life support after he was axed from next season’s central contract list.
Crawley, one of the main supporters of Brendon McCullum’s failed BazBall, was dropped from the Test side after a modest Ashes in Australia.
It comes as he prepares to return to Australian shores after signing a deal to play for the Perth Scorchers in the upcoming Big Bash season.
The right-hander had a strong home Ashes in 2023 but mustered just 275 runs across 10 innings last summer.
Crawley missed McCullum’s final series – the home loss to New Zealand – and failed to overturn the selectors’ decision with County form.
At 28, Crawley still has plenty of time to reinvent himself but failing to make a 30-player contract list is telling.
England lists 39 cricketers, including nine players on what is described as a development contract.
Ben Duckett, meanwhile, was issued a warning after his slender run, dropping from a multi-year contract.
Duckett escaped after a poor and dramatic Ashes series – headlined by a boozy night in Noosa – but has too failed to amaze selectors and new coach Stephen Fleming.
Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith stands with Duckett, falling from a multi-year to a single-season contract.
The two-year commitment from Jofra Archer all but ensures his place in the 2027 Ashes series.
Archer was ruled out of last summer’s Ashes series after just two Test matches.
England’s contracts run from October 1 to September 30 each year – putting next June’s epic Ashes showdown squarely in the middle of their ledger.
Like Australia, England can select away from its central contract list based on form or conditions.
ENGLAND CONTRACT LIST:
Central: Joe Root*, Harry Brook*, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer*, Gus Atkinson*, Sonny Baker*, Tom Banton, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell*, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox*, Henry Crocombe*, Sam Curran*, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Matthew Fisher, Will Jacks*, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Ollie Robinson, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue*
Development: James Coles, Mason Crane, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Liam Patterson-White, Thomas Rew, Matthew Revis, and Mitch Stanley.
*Denotes two-year deal through until 30 September 2028.