Harmison, Hoggard, Jones and Thorpe win summer contracts

Four members of England’s victorious Test squad in the West Indies have been awarded six month summer contracts by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The contracts, which take immediate effect and cover the forthcoming international season in England, have been awarded to Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Graham Thorpe.

Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: “Each of these players has made an outstanding contribution to England’s successful tour of the Caribbean and the award of contracts is richly deserved. The team now faces a busy period of international cricket this summer and all four players will have an important part to play in our plans.”

The four join eight other players who were awarded 12 month contracts by the ECB last September: James Anderson, Mark Butcher, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick.