On Monday 4 December, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the list of England Women’s central contracts for the 2023-24 season.

There are two new faces on England Women’s central contract list for next season. A total of eighteen contracts have been awarded by the ECB, with Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson winning their first women’s central contract in England. The duration of the contracts is one year and will extend until October 31, 2024.

In addition to the central contracts, the ECB has offered development contracts to three players: bowlers Mahika Gaur and Lauren Filer and batter Bess Heath. The development contracts have been awarded to the players because the ECB believes that they will play a key role for the team in the near future.

Director of England Women’s Cricket, Jonathan Finch, in an official statement issued by the board, said:

“Central Contracts are awarded to players who we believe will play an important role over the next 12 months and beyond. We are at the beginning of an unprecedented period of activity in international cricket and the group reflects the requirements of the multi-format schedule we face.

“Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson have been part of our group over the summer, they have performed well and will be important players for England in the future.”

Finch further spoke about development contracts, saying they are a key step in supporting a broader group of actors in their development. Finch stated:

“The introduction of development contracts is a key step for us and allows us to support a wider group of players in their continued development and we will work closely with the regions to manage player development and workloads.

“After a record-breaking Ashes summer, we have a really exciting 12 months of cricket ahead of us and we feel this group of players will form the foundation of our team that will take us through several bilateral series and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

“Our thanks, as always, to the England Women’s Player Partnership and the PCA who continue to play an important role.”

Full list of England Women’s central contracts 2023-24

List of centrally recruited women from England:

Tammy Beaumont (The Fire)

Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers)

Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers)

Alice Capsey (Southeastern Stars)

Kate Cross (Thunder)

Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers)

Sophia Dunkley (Southeast Stars)

Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)

Tash Farrant (Southeastern Stars)

Danielle Gibson (Western Storm)

Sarah Glenn (The Fire)

Amy Jones (Central Sparks)

Freya Kemp (Southern Vipers)

Heather Knight (Western Storm)

Emma Lamb (Thunder)

Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Fire)

Issy Wong (Central Sparks)

Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers)

List of England Women’s Development Contracts:

Bess Heath (Diamonds of the North)

Lauren Filer (Western Storm)

Mahika Gaur (Thunder)