England's Test captain Ben Stokes admits he is very comfortable with players deciding against signing ECB's new central contract and instead finding fortune elsewhere. Earlier, with reports suggesting some of England's players have opted to prioritise playing franchise-based cricket rather than committing to remain available for the national team, fans and pundits were divided over the opinion.

England's new central contracts are up for renewal next month, and ECB chief executive Richard Gould pledged earlier this year saying, the system, which he referred to as 'an existential issue', needs an overhauling. To ensure that England are playing top sides across formats, the ECB will offer multi-year deals to some players to tie them down for an extended period rather than just 12 months.

Ben Stokes, however, accepts players' inclination to make more money playing the lesser-stressed format across different leagues. England's ace-seamer Mark Wood is the latest player to have expressed his desire to skip the upcoming five-match Test series against India in 2024 to play the ILT10 in the UAE.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwc-2023-picking-gamechanger-suryakumar-ahead-of-sanju-was-a-right-call-harbhajan-singh-633375">CWC 2023 - Picking 'Gamechanger' Suryakumar ahead of Sanju was a right call: Harbhajan Singh</a>

Seasoned campaigner Wood, on Wednesday, told The Telegraph he would see what ECB has to offer to him, admitting though he wishes to continue playing for England, ECB's contract will help him decide on his future.

"I want to play for England as long as I can, but it just depends on what they say, what they want me to do, and how they view the structure going forward," Wood told The Telegraph. "Playing both [the ILT20 and the India Tests] is not a viable option for England… I will wait and see what happens with the upcoming central contracts and then make a decision from there."

<h2>Stokes 'understands' cricket's changing landscape</h2>

Returning to playing ODI cricket in over a year, Stokes, on the eve of the first One-Dayer against New Zealand, said he understands why players would choose a different path than committing to play for England. The legendary cricketer said with the changing dynamics, players are getting more chances to make a fortune out of, adding he cannot start to question that.

"We know now that the whole landscape of cricket is changing. That is great for the individuals who are still within the game but also the guys who are coming through. The opportunities that are presented now for cricketers are amazing, and it's great for the sport.

"The more opportunities that come, the more people will be attracted to the sport and try to make a career out of it. Everyone's at a different point in their life, not just in their career, where other things have to be thought about by the individual. If a person makes a decision because they think it's not only best for themselves but also the future and security of their family then it's very hard to disagree with that," Stokes said.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

England's Test captain Ben Stokes admits he is very comfortable with players deciding against signing ECB's new central contract and instead finding fortune elsewhere.

England's Test captain Ben Stokes admits he is very comfortable with players deciding against signing ECB's new central contract and instead finding fortune elsewhere. Earlier, with reports suggesting some of England's players have opted to prioritise playing franchise-based cricket rather than committing to remain available for the national team, fans and pundits were divided over the opinion. England's new central contracts are up for renewal next month, and ECB chief executive Richard Gould pledged earlier this year saying, the system, which he referred to as 'an existential issue', needs an overhauling. To ensure that England are playing top sides across formats, the ECB will offer multi-year deals to some players to tie them down for an extended period rather than just 12 months. Ben Stokes, however, accepts players' inclination to make more money playing the lesser-stressed format across different leagues. England's ace-seamer Mark Wood is the latest player to have expressed his desire to skip the upcoming five-match Test series against India in 2024 to play the ILT10 in the UAE. ALSO READ: CWC 2023 - Picking 'Gamechanger' Suryakumar ahead of Sanju was a right call: Harbhajan Singh Seasoned campaigner Wood, on Wednesday, told The Telegraph he would see what ECB has to offer to him, admitting though he wishes to continue playing for England, ECB's contract will help him decide on his future. "I want to play for England as long as I can, but it just depends on what they say, what they want me to do, and how they view the structure going forward," Wood told The Telegraph. "Playing both [the ILT20 and the India Tests] is not a viable option for England… I will wait and see what happens with the upcoming central contracts and then make a decision from there." Stokes 'understands' cricket's changing landscape Returning to playing ODI cricket in over a year, Stokes, on the eve of the first One-Dayer against New Zealand, said he understands why players would choose a different path than committing to play for England. The legendary cricketer said with the changing dynamics, players are getting more chances to make a fortune out of, adding he cannot start to question that. "We know now that the whole landscape of cricket is changing. That is great for the individuals who are still within the game but also the guys who are coming through. The opportunities that are presented now for cricketers are amazing, and it's great for the sport. "The more opportunities that come, the more people will be attracted to the sport and try to make a career out of it. Everyone's at a different point in their life, not just in their career, where other things have to be thought about by the individual. If a person makes a decision because they think it's not only best for themselves but also the future and security of their family then it's very hard to disagree with that," Stokes said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ben Stokes 'okay' with players deciding against signing ECB's new central contracts to make fortune elsewhere

The ECB on Wednesday&nbsp;confirmed the award of Central Contracts for England Men's Test and White Ball cricket for 2020/21. The selectors have awarded 12 Test Central Contracts and 12 White Ball Central Contracts, as well as four Increment Contracts and three Pace Bowling Development Contracts.

Kent’s Zak Crawley, Surrey’s Ollie Pope and Warwickshire’s Dom Sibley all receive Test Central Contracts for the first time off the back of a 12-month period in which all three scored their maiden Test centuries.

Surrey all-rounder Tom Curran has progressed to a White Ball Central Contract, having been in possession of an Increment Contract for 2019/20.

Kent’s Joe Denly misses out on a White Ball Central Contract, and Jonny Bairstow a Test Central Contract.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/serena-williams-pulls-out-of-roland-garros-due-to-achilles-injury-331427" hreflang="en">Serena Williams pulls out of Roland Garros due to Achilles injury</a>

In addition to Test and White Ball central contracts, selectors can award a limited number of Increment Contracts and Pace Bowling Developmental Contracts

Dom Bess, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan and Jack Leach receive Increment Contracts, with Saqib Mahmood, Olly Stone and Craig Overton retaining their Pace Bowling Development Contracts.

Recipients of Test Central Contracts and White Ball Central Contracts have their salaries paid in full by the ECB.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-csk-ceo-gives-update-on-ambati-rayudu-and-dwayne-bravos-fitness-331418" hreflang="en">IPL 2020: CSK CEO gives update on Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo's fitness</a>

Under the structure, players in both formats receive a ‘ranking’ based on their performances on the pitch, as well as a number of other factors, including off-field contribution, fielding and fitness. Those rankings then correlate with the level of remuneration.

In light of the impact of COVID-19 on the finances of the game, the Team England Player Partnership, on behalf of the players, and the ECB are currently finalising the levels of player remuneration for the next 12 months. A further statement will be made once these discussions have concluded.

WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ipl-shorts-why-ms-dhonis-csk-are-struggling-in-ipl-2020-monty-panesar-gives-his-take-330744" hreflang="en">IPL Shorts: Why MS Dhoni's CSK are struggling in IPL 2020? Monty Panesar gives his take</a>

The contracts, which cover a 12-month period commencing 1 October 2020, have been awarded to the following players:

Test Central Contracts

James Anderson (Lancashire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).

White Ball Central Contracts

Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

Increment Contracts

Dom Bess (Somerset), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Jack Leach (Somerset)

Pace Bowling Development Contracts

Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Olly Stone (Warwickshire)

The ECB on Wednesday confirmed the award of Central Contracts for England Men's Test and White Ball cricket for 2020/21. The selectors have awarded 12 Test Central Contracts and 12 White Ball Central Contracts, as well as four Increment Contracts and three Pace Bowling Development Contracts.

The ECB on Wednesday confirmed the award of Central Contracts for England Men's Test and White Ball cricket for 2020/21. The selectors have awarded 12 Test Central Contracts and 12 White Ball Central Contracts, as well as four Increment Contracts and three Pace Bowling Development Contracts. Kent’s Zak Crawley, Surrey’s Ollie Pope and Warwickshire’s Dom Sibley all receive Test Central Contracts for the first time off the back of a 12-month period in which all three scored their maiden Test centuries. Surrey all-rounder Tom Curran has progressed to a White Ball Central Contract, having been in possession of an Increment Contract for 2019/20. Kent’s Joe Denly misses out on a White Ball Central Contract, and Jonny Bairstow a Test Central Contract. ALSO READ: Serena Williams pulls out of Roland Garros due to Achilles injury In addition to Test and White Ball central contracts, selectors can award a limited number of Increment Contracts and Pace Bowling Developmental Contracts Dom Bess, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan and Jack Leach receive Increment Contracts, with Saqib Mahmood, Olly Stone and Craig Overton retaining their Pace Bowling Development Contracts. Recipients of Test Central Contracts and White Ball Central Contracts have their salaries paid in full by the ECB. ALSO READ: IPL 2020: CSK CEO gives update on Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo's fitness Under the structure, players in both formats receive a ‘ranking’ based on their performances on the pitch, as well as a number of other factors, including off-field contribution, fielding and fitness. Those rankings then correlate with the level of remuneration. In light of the impact of COVID-19 on the finances of the game, the Team England Player Partnership, on behalf of the players, and the ECB are currently finalising the levels of player remuneration for the next 12 months. A further statement will be made once these discussions have concluded. WATCH: IPL Shorts: Why MS Dhoni's CSK are struggling in IPL 2020? Monty Panesar gives his take The contracts, which cover a 12-month period commencing 1 October 2020, have been awarded to the following players: Test Central Contracts James Anderson (Lancashire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire). White Ball Central Contracts Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham). Increment Contracts Dom Bess (Somerset), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Jack Leach (Somerset) Pace Bowling Development Contracts Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Olly Stone (Warwickshire)

ECB announces England Men’s Central Contracts for 2020/21 season

ecb-central-contracts

Ecb Central Contracts, News on Ecb Central Contracts, stories on Ecb Central Contracts, articles on Ecb Central Contracts, Ecb Central Contracts stories at Wion, Ecb Central Contracts news, Ecb Central Contracts latest news

ecb central-contracts

Ben Stokes 'okay' with players deciding against signing ECB's new central contracts to make fortune elsewhere

ECB announces England Men’s Central Contracts for 2020/21 season