Maia Boucher, Danielle Gibson awarded their first central contracts

Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson have been given their maiden England Women central contracts, with a total of 18 players being awarded one-year contracts. Meanwhile, Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Freya Davies are the two players who haven’t been retained. 

Bouchier has already featured in three ODIs and 22 T20Is for England, while fast-bowling all-rounder Gibson made her international debut earlier this year and has played six T20Is so far.

Bowlers Mahika Gaur and Lauren Filer and wicketkeeper-batter Bess Heath have been awarded development contracts after breaking into the senior set-up in 2023. 

These contracts are awarded to those players the England Women management team feels will play a pivotal role for the team in the future and enable the ECB to support them further over the next 12 months.

The aforementioned contracts last until October 31, 2024. The remuneration advancements include enhanced family provision entitlement, a bonus structure that rewards success against higher-ranked opposition, increases to the value of retainers and the equalisation of match fees with England men.

"The Central Contracts are awarded to the players we feel will play a significant role over the next 12 months and beyond. We are at the start of an unprecedented busy period of international cricket and the group reflects the requirements of the multi-format schedule we face,” said Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women's Cricket.

"Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson have been part of our group over the summer, have performed well and will be important players for England moving forward. The introduction of development contracts is a key step for us and allows us to support a wider group of players in their ongoing development and we will work closely with the regions to manage the players' development and workloads.

"After a record-breaking Ashes summer, we have a really exciting 12 months of cricket ahead and we feel this group of players will form the foundations of our side that will take us through various bilateral series, and the ICC Women's T20 World Cup."

England Women Central Contract List: Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt.

England Women development contract list: Bess Heath, Lauren Filer, Mahika Gaur.