The ECB has not announced the latest batch of central contracts, though most of their regular players are already tied to multi-year deals. Stokes was an exception, leaving his op

Ben Stokes has agreed a new two-year England central contract. Last year, the Test captain turned down a three-year deal when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) offered multi-year contracts for the first time.

England captain Ben Stokes won’t play in the first test against Pakistan because he’s still recovering from a torn hamstring.