Linsey Smith Earns First England Central Contract in 2025–26 List

Linsey Smith has been awarded her first full central contract with England Women, completing a seven-year journey since her international debut. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the 2025–26 list on Wednesday, announcing 17 full contracts and four skills contracts.

Smith, who returned to the England setup in 2024 after nearly five years out of international contention, impressed with a five-wicket haul on her ODI debut against West Indies in May. She joins nine other players on one-year deals: Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley, Lauren Filer, Mahika Gaur, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn and Freya Kemp.

Seven players enter the second year of their existing two-year contracts: Lauren Bell, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

There were no surprises in the exclusions. Long-serving seamer Kate Cross, who revealed in September that she had been informed her contract would not be renewed, missed out after nearly 12 years of international duty. Clare Connor, managing director of England Women, reiterated that “the door to selection is never closed on any domestic cricketer,” though Cross has made no announcement about her future.

Meanwhile, Em Arlott and Emma Lamb have received skills contracts for the first time, joining Ryana Macdonald-Gay and Issy Wong. The skills-contract system replaces the former development-contract structure and is designed to support players identified as potential future mainstays of the national side.

Arlott made her England debut in 2024 during the home series against West Indies, while Lamb returned to the squad this year under new head coach Charlotte Edwards after back surgery and limited opportunities in 2023.

Connor praised the group, noting that the contracts reflect “our confidence in this group of players” as England sets its sights on next year’s Women’s T20 World Cup, with the final scheduled at Lord’s on July 5. She added that Smith, Lamb and Arlott “have all made important contributions” and that their new deals present opportunities to build on their progress.

The ECB hopes the refreshed contract structure and squad stability will help England emulate India’s recent triumph at the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, which Connor described as a reminder of “the impact that winning major events on home soil can have.”