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Vaughan and Broad handed central contracts

09/09/2008

Emerging fast bowler Stuart Broad and former Test captain Michael Vaughan have both been handed central contracts by the England and Wales Cricket Board for the 2008/09 season.

There had been speculation that Vaughan, who stepped down as skipper following defeat in the Test series to South Africa earlier this summer, may miss out on a renewal.

However, he has been picked among 12 players for the new 12-month deals starting in October.

"The award of an England central contract to Michael Vaughan reflects the selectors' view that Michael still has a role to play in the England Test squad over the next 12 months," explained national selector Geoff Miller.

"As we build toward the Ashes in 2009, we feel that Michael's experience of previous Ashes campaigns and his excellent personal record against Australia will be an important asset to the squad."

Broad is one of the country's leading young talents in cricket - earning him recognition from the International Cricket Council (ICC) as part of a four-man shortlist for the annual emerging player of the year award.

And Miller said he is "delighted" that Broad has been rewarded for his recent form - which included career-best figures of 5-23 in the fourth ODI against South Africa at Trent Bridge last month.

"Stuart has made rapid progress over the past year and adapted extremely well to the challenges of both Test and one-day international cricket," Miller added.

The other England players to be offered 12-month contracts also include fellow fast bowlers Steve Harmison and James Anderson, as well as influential all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

However, experienced Yorkshire bowler Matthew Hoggard has missed out after falling out of favour with the selectors this year.

A further seven players have been awarded England increment contracts, which are given to players at the start of the home season whom the selectors believe will play a "meaningful role" during the domestic international season, for the same period.

In this list are wicketkeepers Tim Ambrose and Matt Prior, all-rounders Ravi Bopara, Luke Wright and Samit Patel, middle-order batsman Owais Shah and spinner Graeme Swann.

Full list of 12 centrally-contracted players for 2008/09:

Ian Bell
Stuart Broad
Paul Collingwood
Alastair Cook
Andrew Flintoff
Stephen Harmison
Monty Panesar
Kevin Pietersen
Ryan Sidebottom
Andrew Strauss
Michael Vaughan