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Following impressive debut international seasons, Rory Burns and Jofra Archer have been granted central contracts by England.
Archer's impact earned him a contract covering both Test and limited-overs cricket, whereas Burns secured a deal specifically for Test matches.
Archer represents Sussex, while Burns is a mainstay at Surrey.
Joe Denly of Kent was also recognized in the 2019-20 contract list, securing a deal for white-ball cricket.
On the flip side, David Willey, Alex Hales, and World Cup winner Liam Plunkett have all seen their contracts come to an end.
Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid have shifted from all-format deals to white-ball only, while Jack Leach was rewarded for his strong performances with an upgraded contract for 2019-20.
To acknowledge their contributions over the summer, the ECB granted Burns, Denly, and Leach retroactive incremental contracts for the 2018-19 period.
Eoin Morgan remains the white-ball captain for the coming year, noting that he is happy to continue in the role provided his recurring back issues don't interfere.
Notably, both Hales and Willey missed out on the World Cup squad. Hales has been absent from the England setup since a 2017 drug test suspension reported by The Guardian, though he has continued to play for Nottinghamshire and in the CPL.
Hales, who was suspended in September 2017 according to Guardian over reported failed a recreational drugs test, is yet to play for England since the suspension despite playing some games Nottinghamshire and in the Caribbean Premier League.
England has handed out 10 Test and 12 white-ball contracts in total. Among them is the Barbados-born Jofra Archer, whose stellar debut year—finishing as the top wicket-taker—was pivotal in England's World Cup victory in July.
Rory Burns also made his mark, finishing as the second-most productive Ashes batsman, trailing only Ben Stokes.
Players who hold Test or all-format contracts typically receive full salaries from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Reports suggest that these Test contracts can be worth as much as £600,000 annually, while white-ball deals reach up to £275,000.
While white-ball players currently get a supplement added to their county pay, the ECB will take over their full salaries starting February 1, 2020.
Payment levels are tied to a ranking system that considers not just on-field stats, but also fitness, fielding skills, and general contributions off the pitch.
Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed

