Ben Stokes extends England center’s contract until 2027 Ashes

Captain Ben Stokes has extended his contract with the England central midfielder until the end of the next home Ashes series in 2027.

Stokes, whose previous contract was due to expire at the end of next summer, is one of 14 players to sign a two-year deal.

They include bowler Jofra Archer, who signed a contract extension after returning to Test cricket.

England said the contracts reward the performance they put in last year, while also looking forward to the upcoming schedule. The home Ashes in 2027 is followed by the 50-over World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

All 16 players in Australia’s upcoming Ashes squad have been given contracts of at least one year.

Eleven of the Ashes squad – including Stokes, Archer, Joe Root and Harry Brook – signed two-year contracts.

Four of the five who are on one-year contracts – batsmen Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts – are not all-rounders, while 35-year-old bowler Mark Wood is entering the final part of a three-year contract he signed in 2023.

Stokes’ contract extension is particularly eye-catching.

The 34-year-old has a checkered injury record and is currently recovering from a shoulder problem.

However, he is on track to be fit for the first Ashes Test in Perth on November 21, which will be his first action since July.

By signing a longer deal, it signals the possibility of leading England to the 2027 Ashes and also ties up his future with manager Brendon McCullum, who is contracted with England until the end of that year’s World Cup.