Ben Stokes Given England Contract Despite Mental Health Break

Ben Stokes has retained his England central contract despite taking an indefinite break to focus on his mental wellbeing, with cricket chiefs set to give the green light to the Ashes tour at a meeting

He has since taken time away from the game to focus on his mental health and his injury, which required a second operation. Stokes is not appearing in the T20 World Cup and is unlikely to be back for the Ashes but there are hopes that he will return to the fold in 2022.

Sussex seamer Robinson has 28 wickets in his first five Tests at an average of 19.60 while Malan was recalled to the Test side having already established himself as a mainstay of the T20 side.

Left-arm spinner Leach, who did not play for the Test team during the English season, owes his renewed status as first-choice Test spinner to Moeen Ali's retirement from the format.

"I would like to congratulate all the players offered agreements for the coming year, particularly newcomers Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, and Ollie Robinson," said ECB managing director of men's cricket Ashley Giles.

"Receiving your first central contract is a great moment in any player's career. They will all play a pivotal role in England's fortunes over the next 12 months."

England central contracts: Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, Ollie Pope, Adil Rashid, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Increment contracts: Dom Bess, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone. Pace bowling development contracts: Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Olly Stone.