Will Jacks Accuses England Cricket Board Of Not Even Informing Players About Central Contract Snub

England batsman Will Jacks has revealed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) did not inform him about not including him in their centrally contracted players list. The right-handed batter learned about the snub only through social media.

While Will Jacks has already represented England in all three formats and is widely seen as a future star, he was not one of the 26 players who were offered a central contract by the ECB. David Willey was another shocking omission from the list. Despite being in England’s World Cup squad, he was not offered the contract.

A disappointed Willey reacted to the development by announcing his retirement from international cricket just a handful of months before next year’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbeans and the United States. Willey’s performance was one of the very few positives from an otherwise disappointing campaign in the World Cup.

Will Jacks opens up about the snub:

Speaking to Eurosport, Will Jacks revealed that he was not aware of the contract situation and knew about it only through X formally Twitter. He also expressed his disappointment over it as he said he was hopeful of earning the contract from the ECB.

“I just ended up seeing it on Twitter like everyone else did and that was obviously disappointing,” said Will Jacks.

“I was hoping to get one. I felt like I’d been around the squad. Maybe it came one or two tours early and maybe if I’d played a little bit more maybe I would have had one.

“It was a bit of a difficult one. I didn’t really find out at all. I knew everyone was hearing and I was waiting to hope that I would find out and then I didn’t,” he added.

Speaking further, he also revealed that he had a conversation with Rob Key, the England managing director, about the snub, saying:

“It was nothing really negative about me that they said – it is always about why other people have one above me which is understandable. There’s obviously loads of guys who are in the World Cup who deserve to have one and I understand that. And there’s obviously a limited number you can give out. Obviously, the bowlers are prioritized because of injury.”

Will Jacks is currently in the Caribbean for the ongoing three-match ODI series. He opened the batting for his side in the first ODI in Antigua on Sunday but failed to make an impact. He was out for just 26 as England suffered a 4-wicket defeat.