Bashir retains ECB Central Contract

Derbyshire and England spinner, Shoaib Bashir, has earned a central contract for 2027. 

Bashir, who has featured in 21 Test matches for England and claimed four international five-wicket hauls, was called up to the England squad for series against New Zealand and Pakistan this summer, appearing twice and claiming three dismissals.

In his first season with Derbyshire, Bashir made 13 Rothesay County Championship appearances and took 24 first-class wickets. He also maintained an economy of 2.90, highlighting the control he brought to the Derbyshire attack, even when conditions were not favouring spin.

A central contract will see Bashir’s salary covered by the ECB, with the player available to feature for Derbyshire when not required for national team duty.

The National Lead Coaching Structure and coaching staff for the England Men Test and white-ball teams have also been confirmed.

Two newly-created National Lead coaching roles sees Mike Yardy appointed as Elite National Batting Lead, while Richard Dawson has agreed to undertake the Elite National Spin Bowling Lead role. Troy Cooley began as Elite National Pace Bowling Lead earlier this year.

England Men’s Test Head Coach, Stephen Fleming, will be supported by a coaching staff including Dawson, Marcus Trescothick, James Foster and Eric Simons.

England Men’s white-ball Head Coach, Brendon McCullum’s coaching team will include Sarah Taylor, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee and Kevin Pietersen in his specialist mentor role.

England have an exciting winter of Test cricket coming up, with a three-match series against South Africa across December and January, before a one-off Test against Australia at Melbourne, to commemorate 150 years since the first Test between England and Australia.

England Men Centrally Contracted Players

Joe Root* (Yorkshire)
Harry Brook* (Yorkshire)
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Jofra Archer* (Sussex)
Gus Atkinson* (Surrey)
Sonny Baker* (Hampshire)
Tom Banton (Somerset)
Shoaib Bashir (Derbyshire)
Jacob Bethell* (Warwickshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Jordan Cox* (Essex)
Henry Crocombe* (Sussex/Surrey)
Sam Curran* (Surrey)
Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Emilio Gay (Durham)
Matthew Fisher (Surrey)
Will Jacks* (Surrey)
Dan Lawrence (Surrey)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Jamie Overton (Surrey)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Josh Tongue* (Nottinghamshire)

*Denotes two-year deal through until 30 September 2028

England Men Development Contracted Players 2026–27

James Coles (Sussex)
Mason Crane (Glamorgan)
Josh Hull (Leicestershire)
Eddie Jack (Hampshire)
Ben McKinney (Durham)
Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire)
Thomas Rew (Somerset)
Matthew Revis (Yorkshire)
Mitch Stanley (Lancashire)