Jofra Archer Rewarded With England Central Contract After Brilliant World Cup, Ashes 2019

The 2019 international summer proved to be unforgettable in the history of England cricket, with the team winning the ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time and drawing an Ashes contest against Australia after 47 years. One man played a key factor in England's brilliant performance in the summer and that was Jofra Archer. The Barbados-born pacer took 20 wickets in the World Cup and 22 wickets in four games in the Ashes series to enhance his reputation as one of the best bowlers in the world. Due to his efforts, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has rewarded Archer with a central contract for the first time. 

Archer's bowling touched speeds in the mid-90-miles-per-hour range in a scintillating debut international summer. The 24-year-old, who only became England qualified earlier this year, is one of 10 players to receive a Test deal for the 2019/20 season. Another is opener Rory Burns, who cemented his spot at the top of the order with some battling performances in the Ashes. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid have lost their central Test contracts but are in a list of 12, also including Joe Denly, to be handed less lucrative white-ball deals.

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Archer bowled the all-important super over in the final against New Zealand and although the Kiwis tied the match, England were declared the World Cup champions as they had a superior boundary count. However, in the Ashes, Archer displayed his brilliance in the Lord's Test. On his debut in the Lord's Test, Archer made the world sit up and take notice of his talent with a brilliant display of bowling against Steve Smith, who was enjoying a brilliant Ashes series.

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Archer touched 96 mph and one bouncer, bowled at 93 mph hit Smith on the side of the neck and it ruled him out of the Leeds Test. In that match, Archer picked up 6/45 and along with Ben Stokes, helped England achieve a thriling one-wicket win. At The Oval Test, Archer was once again in prime form by taking 6/62 as England won the match by 135 runs to square an Ashes series for the first time since 1972. 

Test contracts: J Anderson (Lancashire), J Archer (Sussex), J Bairstow (Yorkshire), S Broad (Nottinghamshire), R Burns (Surrey), J Buttler (Lancashire), S Curran (Surrey), J Root (Yorkshire), B Stokes (Durham), C Woakes (Warwickshire).

White-ball contracts: M Ali (Worcestershire), J Archer (Sussex), J Bairstow (Yorkshire), J Buttler (Lancashire), J Denly (Kent), E Morgan (Middlesex), A Rashid (Yorkshire), J Root (Yorkshire), J Roy (Surrey), B Stokes (Durham), C Woakes (Warwickshire), M Wood (Durham).

Increment contracts: T Curran (Surrey), J Leach (Somerset).

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