Openers omitted from ECB’s central contract list

No opening batsmen have been given central Test contracts for 2018-19 by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Following the decision of former England captain Alastair Cook to retire from international cricket after the Test series against India, there is a big vacancy at the top of the order which needs to be filled.

Cook’s latest opening partner Keaton Jennings, the Lancashire batsman, misses out on a deal, while Rory Burns had pressed his case when scoring more than 1,000 runs in the Specsavers County Championship to help Surrey win a first title in 16 years.

Surrey’s Sam Curran, though, receives a Test contract for the first time.

However, only 10 players with Test-match experience make the ECB list for 2018-19, when England will be in action at a home World Cup as well as an Ashes series.

Ben Stokes is included, the Durham player still awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary commission to conclude its findings into a charge of bringing the game into disrepute.

The 13 white-ball one-day international and T20 selections reflect a largely settled England line-up heading into the World Cup.

Selectors have also awarded Surrey all-rounder Tom Curran an increment contract for the next 12 months, commencing October 1 2018.

:: ECB central contracts for 2018-19:
Test: Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

ODI/T20: Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Liam Plunkett (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham)

Incremental: Tom Curran (Surrey)