da winzada777： A new structure for the award of central contracts to England cricketers wastoday backed virtually unanimously (18-1) by a meeting of the First ClassForum (FCF) at the ECB’s offices at Lord’s Cricket Ground
ECB Media Release12-Aug-2002A new structure for the award of central contracts to England cricketers wastoday backed virtually unanimously (18-1) by a meeting of the First ClassForum (FCF) at the ECB’s offices at Lord’s Cricket Ground.It was agreed to award a maximum of 20 Central Contracts – with no more thanbetween 10 and 16 to be of a 12-month duration. These contracts will runfrom October 1st until September 30th each year. In addition, inMarch/April each year, the Selectors will be able to top up the number ofCentrally Contracted players to a maximum of 20 with the award of six-monthSummer Contracts.Twelve-month contracts will only be offered to those players who, it isfelt, will play a major part in England’s activities in the year ahead.This will provide the Counties with increased certainty in terms of staffplanning for the following domestic season.For 12 month Contracted Players, an England retainer will replace the Countysalary with Counties retaining Players’ registrations and with the Countycontract running in parallel but remaining dormant until the Player isreleased from his England Central Contract. Pensions and insurances will becovered by the ECB.The award of Summer Contracts allows for consideration to be given to strongperformers on winter tours and at the National Academy. Summer contractswill operate in a way similar to the current Central Contracts with playersreceiving an England supplement to their County salaries and with theCounties receiving compensation.The additional costs of the new system, over and above the on-goingoperation of the current system, are estimated at about £980,000. It isestimated that Counties will save £630,000 as a result of reducing theiremployment costs of England Players and that, therefore, the net cost tocricket of the new England contracting system is about £350,000.There will continue to be guaranteed availability of Centrally ContractedPlayers for the all ‘first-class’ C&G Trophy matches. The England HeadCoach will determine Contracted Player availability for County Cricket forall other matches. With up to 20 Players on Central Contracts, however, itis anticipated that there will be some Contracted Players who are notselected for the Team for extended periods and who will be available for agood deal of County Cricket. In recognition of the often-considerabledevelopment costs incurred by counties in producing England players, it wasagreed that the ECB would not ‘clawback’ income from the counties forCentrally Contracted players who are released by the England Head Coach toplay for their counties.The England Medical Team will continue to determine the treatment of injuredCentrally Contracted Players. Co-ordination and communication betweenEngland Management, medics and Counties is absolutely vital when ContractedPlayers are injured. In recognition of this, approval has been granted bythe ECB Remuneration’s Committee for the appointment of a part-time MedicalOfficer who will fulfil this role, conduct medicals for all England Teamsand maintain Player medical records.Commenting on today’s meeting of the FCF, Tim Lamb, Chief Executive of theECB, said:”I am delighted that the FCF has supported, so whole-heartedly, the furtherenhancement of the England Central Contracts system. There has been a verydiscernible improvement in the performances of the England team over thepast couple of years, and this decision is all about giving the EnglandManagement further control and resources to produce a world-class team”.