NICK HOWSON: Following confirmation of the new batch of central contracts, an announcement regarding the terms of the deals is due imminently. But further reductions are possible
England players have been warned that further cuts to their annual pay could be made if cricket continues to be disrupted by the global coronavirus pandemic.
The ECB have confirmed the new raft of deals for the 2020-21 cycle - but the terms have yet to be confirmed as talks between the body and player representatives continue.
A reduction to the pay received by players is expected amid a range of cut-backs made by the ECB, which includes 62 staff being made redundant. Senior staff including chief-executive Tom Harrison and managing director of England men's cricket Ashley Giles are among those to see their pay cut.
Such is the uncertainty caused by the virus that England's winter schedule has yet to be confirmed. Tours to South Africa, India - possibly in the United Arab Emirates - and Sri Lanka are in the pipeline but tour dates haven't been announced.
Giles expects confirmation of the packages to come imminently - but believes all parties must be flexible in the event the sport suffers a further cancellation of matches.
"If there is no income they're not worth the paper they're written on," the former left-arm spinner told the media. "These are also employment contracts and we want to give our players a level of security and care.
England cricket central contracts: What is an increment contract? Who has a central contract?
"None of us know what is ahead of us over the next couple of months, the next couple of weeks in fact so that element of being flexible and adaptable is really important.
"The players are at the pointy end of everything we do and this year they probably appreciate it more than at any other time."
He added: "They're mature and realistic about what is going on and the revenues are likely to be less in the future and that has an impact on everyone."
In total, 24 red and white-ball contracts have been awarded, while four incremental and a trio of fast-bowling deals have been distributed for 2020-21.
The announcement comes in the wake of the ECB claiming as much as £200 million could be lost due to the chaos caused by COVID-19.
Chris Woakes stated before the announcement that the players could not be exempt from the cuts being made by the governing body and Giles has hailed their response.
Chris Woakes has both a red and white ball contract
"We are still in those discussions and they're really positive discussions as they have been throughout this whole period and before," he explained.
"What I would say that though the players have been in the bubble for the majority of this summer they are not blind to the reality of what is going on in the world. And sadly they have to play a part in that.
"The players have done a huge amount this summer to saving a lot of money for cricket across the board and in some respects keeping the lights on.
"They understand they have a part to play and we are finalising those discussions and we're getting very close to reaching a conclusion.
"We were hopeful we'd be able to do the two things at the same time, but with us getting to the end of the month it felt it was important we announced the central contracts."
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