LONDON: England have expanded their number of centrally contracted players to a record 39, including 30 full contracts, the ECB said onMonday.

Former captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Mark Wood retired from internationals this year, and opener Zak Crawley and left-arm seamer Luke Wood did not get renewed contracts.

Uncapped seamer Henry Crocombe was awarded a two-year deal as one of seven players added to England`s full-contract list for the first time.

Batter Jordan Cox and fast bowler Sonny Baker also received two-year deals, and Tom Banton, Sam Cook, Emilio Gay, Matthew Fisher and Dan Lawrence earned one-year contracts. Seam bowler Ollie Robinson returned to the list after holding central contracts in 2022 and 2023. England now have 11 players on two-year contracts, with test captain Joe Root, one-day skipper Harry Brook, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell among nine whose deals have been extended until September 2028.-Reuters