Three players are placed under special development contracts by the ECB, which announced the central contracts for the England women’s 2023–24 cycle.

On Sunday, December 4, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed the central contracts that the England women will have for the 2023–24 cycle. Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson received central contracts for the first time. However, the new recruits to the women’s team central contract were wicketkeeper batter Bess Heath, fast bowler Lauren Filler, and adolescent wonder Mahika Gaur.

Notably, Bouchier has featured in 22 T20Is and three ODIs while being a member of the England team for the last three years. She did, however, make a splash when she struck for a stunning 95 (65) in the third ODI against Sri Lanka in September. Gibson, meanwhile, made her Ashes 2023 debut and sealed the T20I series by hitting the game-winning runs in the third Lord’s match.

Following Katherine Sciver-Brunt’s retirement from the game after 19 years of service, Bouchier and Gibson have been promoted, while seamer Freya Davies has also been left off the list.

“The players who we believe will have a major impact over the next 12 months and beyond are given core contracts. ESPNCricinfo cited Jonathan Finch, the ECB’s director of England Women’s Cricket, as stating, “We are at the beginning of an unprecedented busy period of international cricket and the group reflects the requirements of the multi-format schedule we face.”

Even though Tash Ferrent last competed for her country in 2021 because to a reoccurring stress fracture in her back, the left-arm seamer has been retained once more. Issy Wong, a young pace phenom, also retains her contract despite having a difficult season in which she was only selected once and appeared to be hopelessly out of rhythm.

Development contracts were supplied by Gaur, Heath, and Filer.

In addition, the ECB hopes to give athletes like Lauren Filer, a fast bowler, and Mahika Gaur, a 17-year-old left-arm seamer, more help by introducing the new development contracts.

In addition to a larger family provision entitlement, additional bonuses for success against higher-ranked opposition, increased retainers, and equal match fees to their male counterparts, the core contracts last until October 31, 2024.

England Female central contracts: Tash Farrant, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Tash Farrant, Danielle Gibson

Development contracts for England Women: Bess Heath, Lauren Filer, and Mahika Gaur