England have announced 17 full Women’s Central Contracts and four Skills Contracts for the 2025/26 cycle, hinting at a decisive step forward as the team prepares for a historic year that includes hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in mid-2026. Ten players have been handed new one-year contracts. Meanwhile, seven others move into the second year of their existing deals. Em Arlott and Emma Lamb have both earned skills contracts for the first time. Experienced seamer Kate Cross has missed out on a contract for the upcoming year.
ECB central contracts:
Year two of two (Existing contract) - Lauren Bell (Hampshire), Charlie Dean (Somerset), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Heather Knight (Somerset), Amy Jones (The Blaze), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey)
New one-year contracts - Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze), Maia Bouchier (Hampshire), Alice Capsey (Surrey), Sophia Dunkley (Surrey), Lauren Filer (Durham), Mahika Gaur (Lancashire), Danielle Gibson (Somerset), Sarah Glenn (Yorkshire), Freya Kemp (Hampshire), Linsey Smith (Hampshire)
New skills contracts - Em Arlott (Warwickshire), Emma Lamb (Lancashire), Ryana Macdonald-Gay (Surrey), Issy Wong (Warwickshire)
“It’s an immensely exciting year ahead for England Women and the awarding of these contracts reflects our confidence in this group of players with our collective focus firmly on winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil next summer,” Clare Connor, Managing Director of England Women said in a statement.
“Linsey Smith, Emma Lamb and Em Arlott have all made important contributions for England across the last year and these contracts are both a reward for what they have achieved and an opportunity to develop their skills further."