England name 39 contracted players as Fleming's Test staff takes shape

England announced a 39-player contract list on Monday alongside changes to their coaching staff, according to BBC Sport. Thirty players hold full central contracts and nine have development deals. The announcement includes two-year agreements for Test captain Joe Root and white-ball captain Harry Brook, with the longer commitments running until September 2028.

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Uncapped fast bowler Henry Crocombe also received a two-year contract. He joins Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker and Josh Tongue among the specialist pace bowlers given multi-year deals. Crocombe, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Dan Lawrence, Tom Banton, Sam Cook and Matt Fisher received full central contracts for the first time.

BBC cricket correspondent Stephan Shemilt reported that Richard Dawson, James Foster and Eric Simons have joined Stephen Fleming's Test staff, with Marcus Trescothick remaining in the red-ball set-up. Ollie Robinson returned to the contract list after two years without a deal, while Shoaib Bashir retained his contract.

The coaching appointments follow England's decision to separate responsibility for the Test and limited-overs teams again. Fleming leads the Test side, while Brendon McCullum oversees white-ball cricket. In its earlier report on Simons' appointment, BBC Sport identified South Africa in December as Fleming's first series in charge, giving the incoming staff a defined starting point for their work together.

Simons brings an established working relationship with Fleming to the Test bowling role. The pair have worked together at Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, as well as Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 and Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket. The 64-year-old also served as South Africa's head coach between 2002 and 2004 and worked as India's bowling coach.

Kevin Pietersen's batting consultancy forms part of the white-ball preparations for next year's 50-over World Cup in southern Africa. BBC reported that he would not travel for the Pakistan tour but was due to join the squad in Australia and then for three one-day internationals in South Africa in January. Those assignments sit alongside the Test staff's preparations under Fleming.