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Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones have been awarded new 12-month central contracts despite missing this winter’s Ashes series because of knee injuries.

Neither Vaughan nor Jones played for England this summer, but both are in an expanded list of 13 names. Monty Panesar and Alastair Cook have been rewarded for what chairman of selectors David Graveney described as their “excellent progress”. The only man dropped from last year’s list of 12 is wicket-keeper Geraint Jones. He lost his place to Chris Read during the recent series against Pakistan, but Read has not been included in the contracted list either.

“The selectors can, of course, award summer contracts to individual players from next April if we feel performances on overseas tours merit this. I’m sure that both Chris Read and Geraint Jones will be competing hard to demonstrate their value to the team this winter,” said Graveney.

There are three different payment bands for contracted players, with those in the highest category thought to earn up to £250,000. And the decision to include Vaughan and Jones could be a costly one if they suffer any setbacks in their recovery.

But Graveney explained: “The selectors were also keen to demonstrate our support and faith in those players who are currently recovering from long-term injuries but remain an important part of our plans.”

Vaughan hopes to be able to play in the one-day series in Australia which follows the Ashes Tests.

“At least it looks like I’m on the upward slide and I can look forward to playing cricket again. It’s going to be quite a hard rehab but I’m looking forward to getting back in 2007,” he said recently.

Jones, however, has been advised to delay his return until the 2007 domestic season following surgery on his left knee in the USA.

Source:The News