The England and Wales Cricket Board on Wednesday announced 17 full England Women’s Central Contracts and four Skills contracts for 2025/26.

Ten players have received new one-year contracts, with seven players in the second year of their current terms.

Em Arlott and Emma Lamb have been awarded Skills Contracts for the first time, while Linsey Smith capped a remarkable year by earning her first full Central Contract..

Smith got her maiden full contract seven years after making her international debut.

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Existing Contracts (Entering the second year in a two-year contract)

Lauren Bell (Hampshire)

Charlie Dean (Somerset)

Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire)

Heather Knight (Somerset)

Amy Jones (The Blaze)

Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze)

Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey)

New One-Year Contracts

Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze)

Maia Bouchier (Hampshire)

Alice Capsey (Surrey)

Sophia Dunkley (Surrey)

Lauren Filer (Durham)

Mahika Gaur (Lancashire)

Danielle Gibson (Somerset)

Sarah Glenn (Yorkshire)

Freya Kemp (Hampshire)

Linsey Smith (Hampshire)

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New Skills Contracts (Equivalent of Men’s Development Contracts)

Em Arlott (Warwickshire)

Emma Lamb (Lancashire)

Ryana Macdonald-Gay (Surrey)

Issy Wong (Warwickshire)

“It’s an immensely exciting year ahead for England Women and the awarding of these contracts reflects our confidence in this group of players with our collective focus firmly on winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil next summer,” Clare Connor, Managing Director of England Women said in a statement.

“Linsey Smith, Emma Lamb and Em Arlott have all made important contributions for England across the last year and these contracts are both a reward for what they have achieved and an opportunity to develop their skills further.

“Kate Cross misses out on a central contract after years of extraordinary service to England Women’s cricket. The door to selection is never closed on any domestic cricketer. Consistency in scoring runs and taking wickets in county cricket will always put players in a strong position to be picked in England squads.

“We’re all excited about what 2025/26 brings. Witnessing India win the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in their own country in front of their own fans is a powerful reminder of the impact that winning major events on home soil can have. The Red Roses too have provided that inspiration. So we know how huge an opportunity a home T20 World Cup is for us next summer. In addition, I know our players will all be striving to be involved in a historic women’s Test match at Lord’s against India.”

Published on Dec 03, 2025