Stanford Series and India ODI squad named; central contracts awarded

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The England selectors announced a 15-man one-day squad under the captaincy of Kevin Pietersen for the forthcoming Stanford Super Series and the one-day leg of the tour of India.

The squad contains 14 members of the squad which won the NatWest Series against South Africa 4-0. Ryan Sidebottom, who missed the NatWest Series with a groin injury, has been named in the 15-man squad subject to fitness and replaces Tim Bresnan. The squad is:

Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire, captain)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire)
Stephen Harmison (Durham)
Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Owais Shah (Middlesex)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)

The England selectors also announced that 12 players had been awarded 12-month central contracts for the period from October 1 2008 to September 30 2009. They are:

James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire)
Stephen Harmison (Durham)
Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex)
Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire)

National selector Geoff Miller said: "The selectors would like to congratulate the team on an outstanding performance in beating such a talented one-day side as South Africa so comprehensively.

"It bodes extremely well for the tough challenges that lie ahead this winter and is reflected in our decision to retain the bulk of the squad from this summer’s NatWest Series for both the Stanford Super Series and the tour of India.

"With regard to the award of central contracts, I am delighted that Stuart Broad has won an England central contract for the first time. Stuart has made rapid progress over the past year and adapted extremely well to the challenges of both Test and one-day international cricket.

"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.

Stuart Broad has been given a 12-month England central contract for the first time

"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."

A further seven players have been awarded England increment contracts for the same period:

Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire)
Matthew Prior (Sussex)
Owais Shah (Middlesex)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)

England increment contracts are in line with principles of summer central contracts which were previously awarded to players at the start of the home season whom the selectors believed would play a meaningful role during the domestic international season.

As was the case with summer central contracts, players awarded an increment contract will receive an additional one-off payment from the ECB on top of the salary they receive from their first-class county. Players awarded a 12-month England central contract will continue to be paid by the ECB rather than their county.

Non-contracted players will be able to earn an England increment contract via the introduction of a new points system which will begin this winter. Five points will be awarded for a Test appearance and two for a Twenty20 or ODI appearance with an England increment contract being awarded automatically once a player reaches 20 points during the 12-month contract period.

England Itinerary

Stanford Super Series

October 25: Stanford Superstars v Trinidad and Tobago
October 26: England v Middlesex
October 27: Trinidad and Tobago v Middlesex
October 28: England v Trinidad and Tobago
October 30: Stanford Superstars v Middlesex
November 1: Stanford Superstars v England

Tour of India

Nov 6, 2008: England arrive in Mumbai
Nov 9: one-day warm-up match, Mumbai
Nov 11: one-day warm-up match, Mumbai
Nov 14: 1st ODI v India, Rajkot
Nov 17: 2nd ODI v India, Indore
Nov 20: 3rd ODI v India, Kanpur
Nov 23: 4th ODI v India, Jamshedpur
Nov 26: 5th ODI v India, Cuttack
Nov 29: 6th ODI v India, Guwahati
Dec 2: 7th ODI v India, Delhi
Dec 5: three-day warm-up match, Baroda
Dec 11: 1st Test v India, Ahmedabad
Dec 19: 2nd Test v India, CCI Mumbai

Background

• England 12-month central contracts were introduced in 2002-03. Twelve players were awarded central contracts in 2007-08, 13 in 2006-07, 12 in 2004-05, eight in 2003-04, and nine in 2002-03.

• England players’ 12-month central contracts are awarded in three different salary bands which are not disclosed publicly. The value of the England increment contract is also confidential.

• The criteria for the award of 12-month central contracts is unchanged and has remained the same for the last six years - they are offered only to those players whom the selectors and the board are convinced will play a major part in England’s activities through the year ahead. The number of 12-month central contracts is capped at 16.

• First-class counties will continue to receive compensation on a missed match basis when players without 12-month central contracts are unavailable due to international commitments during the domestic season.

• Counties will continue to receive a performance-related fee payment with regard to England appearances by players they have developed.

• During the home season the England head coach has control over the playing programmes of all players in the England performance squad, a squad of up to 30 players including those on 12-month central contracts and increment contracts which is announced prior to the start of the home international programme.