Sophia Dunkley among 17 players handed central contracts by England Women

Dunkley, who plays for South East Stars in the revamped regional structure, has turned out 15 times at international level since making her debut against Bangladesh in the 2018 World T20

Sophia Dunkley has been awarded a central contract for the first time in this year’s batch of England deals.

Dunkley, who plays for South East Stars in the revamped regional structure, has turned out 15 times at international level since making her debut against Bangladesh in the 2018 World T20.

She is the sole addition to the previous 17-strong list, with Scotland-born Kirstie Gordon the only player to lose her contract. The left-arm spinner last featured in the Ashes Test against Australia in 2019 – her sixth England appearance after taking up a deal to play for Loughborough Lightning as a domestic player in the Kia Super League, declaring for England in the process. She has since fallen behind Mady Villiers and Sarah Glenn in the spin-bowling pecking order, with Sophie Ecclestone established as the squad’s leading spinner.

Despite a winter recall for Tash Farrant and the inclusion of teenage fast bowler Issy Wong on the tour of New Zealand for the benefit of her own experience, neither have been handed central contracts, though both are among the 41 female players on full-time, professional domestic deals.

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Left-arm seamer Katie George, whose injury troubles have prevented her from making an England appearance since 2018, has retained her contract, along with others who have been on the fringes of selection in recent times, including allrounder Georgia Elwiss and opening batter Lauren Winfield-Hill. The agreements run in accordance with the domestic contracts – from May 1, 2021, to October 31, 2022, a change this year to ensure that transitions from one deal to another are straightforward; Gordon is now on a regional contract with Lightning.

Jonathan Finch, director of England Women’s cricket, said: “We’re pleased to confirm a strong group of centrally contracted England Women’s cricketers ahead of a really exciting two years for Lisa (Keightley), Heather (Knight) and the team.

^{Sophia Dunkley has been involved in England's last two series - against West Indies and New Zealand}

“The central contracts, along with the roll out of professional women’s domestic contracts, provide a fantastic opportunity to develop a larger pool of players pushing for selection and help strive for success on the field for England Women.

“We’ve continued to work closely with the England Women’s Player Partnership (EWPP) and the PCA to establish a comprehensive and objective process that underpins the awarding of central contracts. We will keep working in collaboration for the benefit of the players as we continue to grow and develop the professional women’s game.”

Dunkley has long been touted as a player of significant potential. Initially viewed as an all-round option on account of her leg-spin as well, she is yet to bowl in this summer’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and has delivered just four overs in England colours, but her progression as a batter has left many observers convinced that the 22-year-old could be the player to break into a top six that has been well established and settled for some time. Indeed, the last batter to reach the landmark of 100 career runs in ODI cricket for England was Winfield-Hill in 2013.

Dunkley has begun the domestic season in sparkling form, having spent her winter in New Zealand, where she featured in three T20Is. In three rounds of Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures, she has made scores of 92, 0 and 104 not out, leaving her as the third-highest run-scorer in the competition behind England teammates Amy Jones and Heather Knight. She was previously involved in England’s series win over West Indies last summer.

England are due to announce their squad for the one-off Test against India on Wednesday, a week out from the first day.

List of England Women centrally contracted players: Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Sarah Glenn, Katie George, Heather Knight, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt