Joe Root receives central contract

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor

Published: October 22 2013 | 15:04

Last updated: October 23 2013 | 09:56

Young batsman Joe Root is one of 11 players to receive a central contract from the ECB.

Yorkshire batsman Joe Root has been handed a central contract by the ECB for the first time.

The 22-year-old has been selected as one of 11 players to be offered a deal for the next 12 months.

"Contracts are on-going recognition for those players who have regularly been selected for England and have performed consistently, as well as those players we feel are likely to play an important role for England over the next year," said national selector Geoff Miller.

"Congratulations to Joe Root who is the one addition to the list of players awarded a central contract and this reflects the important role Joe has played for England since making his international debut last year and will I'm sure continue to play across all formats."

The players awarded contracts for the period October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014 are: James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Alastair Cook (Essex), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Matt Prior (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire) and Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire).