ECB announces central contracts for 2022-23 season: Jason Roy demoted, Livingstone moves up

England white-ball veteran Jason Roy’s struggles with form in the ongoing season have resulted in him being downgraded to an incremental deal, while the country’s T20 star Liam Livingstone has earned his first full contract in the new central contract offers for the 2022-23 season announced by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday.

These contracts are in effect from October 1 onwards. “The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced the Central Contract offers for England Men’s international cricket for the year from 1 October 2022,” said a statement from the board.

In T20Is this year, Roy has struggled for form. In 11 appearances so far, he has scored only 206 runs at an average of 18.72. Only one half-century has come off his bat, with the best individual score of 52. His form led to him being dropped from the ICC T20 World Cup squad for this year.

However, he has a better record in ODIs this year. He has scored 296 runs in eight innings across nine matches at an average of 42.28. One century and one fifty have come off his bat, with the best score of 101*.

The system, which covers both red-ball and white-ball players, takes into account the likelihood of players featuring in England teams across formats in the next 12 months, whilst also recognising performances in the preceding year.

In total, 30 players have received central contract offers—18 England Annual Central Contracts, six England Increment Contracts, and six England Pace Bowling Development Contracts.

Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes and Lancashire batter Liam Livingstone are the two new recipients of England’s annual central contract offers, whilst Harry Brook, Matthew Potts and Reece Topley are offered England Increment Contracts, their first central contracts.

To support the development of high-potential seam bowlers, Brydon Carse, Matthew Fisher and Jamie Overton are offered Pace Bowling Development Contracts for the first time, joining Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton and Olly Stone on this form of Central Contract.