Duncan Fletcher and Nasser Hussain have won their battle to increase the number of centrally-awarded contracts. A decision by the First Class Forum (FCF) has raised the number from 12 to a maximum of 20.

The England and Wales Cricket Board will award a maximum of 16 players one-year deals, with the remainder getting six-month contracts to cover the summer months. That brings England in line with Australia and South Africa and, according to Fletcher, will give England every chance of competing on a par with them. India are believed to be on the verge of instigating a similar system of central contracts, albeit with a provision for performance-related pay.

Tim Lamb, chairman of the ECB, welcomed the FCF's decision: "I am delighted that the FCF has supported, so whole-heartedly, the further enhancement of the England central contracts system. There has been a very discernible improvement in the performances of the England team over the past couple of years, and this decision is all about giving the England management further control and resources to produce a world-class team."

Weekend press reports had suggested that the ECB would look at some system of charging counties whenever centrally-contracted players turned out for them, but this was not put forward. The ECB said that it would have been inappropriate, given the work that the counties do to bring on talented youngsters.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd