Davies secures Central Contract

Sussex seam bowler Freya Davies has been awarded an England Central Contract and will now become a full-time professional, just 12-months after attending PCA Rookie Camp.

The 23-year-old joins a list of 21 players who are now contracted to the ECB, with four of those on Rookie Contracts.

Davies made her debut for Sussex aged 14 and has worked her way through the ranks with the England Women’s Academy whilst also impressing in the Kia Super League for Western Storm and is now in pole position for an England debut in 2019 after stepping up from her Rookie Contract.

Bryony and Linsey Smith have been awarded Rookie Contracts for the first time and join Alice Davidson-Richards and Katie George on the contract, which has been negotiated between the ECB and England Women’s Player Partnership (EWPP).

Davies was awarded a Rookie Contract in 2018 and is pleased her hard work has been rewarded with a full Central Contract.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to receive my first full contract. It’s always been my aim to represent England and this is an exciting step in the right direction.

“I’m looking forward to continuing the hard work, and the challenge now of getting myself picked.”

EWPP was established in 2017 and all England players who hold a contract with the ECB are members of the partnership. The aim of the partnership is to look after the needs of the England women cricketers, working closely with the ECB to ensure that players’ rights are protected.

Freya Davies, Bryony Smith and Linsey Smith in action in the Kia Super League.

EWPP negotiates and manage the scope and nature of the England players’ duties in accordance with their contracts with the ECB, which Davies will now be a part of.

EWPP also manages the commercial interests of the England Cricket Teams including management of the players‘ commercial programme and relationship with the ECB and its partners.

Tash Farrant and Beth Langston have been released by the ECB while Dani Hazell retired from international cricket in January, all three remain PCA members.

Farrant made her England debut in 2013 before turning professional the following year and has made 15 appearances for her country. Langston has six caps and was part of the squad, which lifted the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017.

The new contracts signify a higher level of remuneration for England Women, continuing the trend since the women’s game turned professional in 2014.

The overall salary pot has grown by 10 per cent on 2018 and the bonus pot for bi-lateral series wins has also been increased by 25 per cent.

Centrally Contracted players: