Zak Crawley signs Kent extension after losing England contract

Zak Crawley has signed a new one-year deal with Kent after losing his England central contract, which will see the club become his primary employer again after six years on the ECB's books.

Crawley finally lost his Test spot at the start of England's home summer after an extended run at the top of the order. Along with Lancashire's Luke Wood, he was one of only two players to lose his deal on performance grounds when the ECB announced a bumper list of 30 central contracts for the 2026-27 cycle this week.

In recent seasons, Crawley has signed a number of one-year contracts with Kent rather than committing to a long-term deal, which has occasionally fueled rumors that he will leave. However, he has now renewed his commitment to Kent until the end of the following season, when the club will compete in Division One of the County Championship.

"I'm delighted to sign on for a further year at my boyhood county," Crawley said in a club statement. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of competing for Kent this summer, and it's an exciting time as we head back into Division One of the County Championship.

"It's great to see so many young players coming through the system here, similar to my journey into first-team cricket, and I'm excited to help them settle into the first team and further their development for the long term."

After a disastrous start to the summer of 2026, Crawley took a brief break from red-ball cricket in the middle of the season. However, toward the end of the season, Crawley found some form, scoring four half-centuries in six matches and helping Kent earn promotion. He is also considered a potential future club captain, having led Sunrisers Leeds in the Hundred this year.

"We're extremely pleased that Zak has extended his contract," Simon Cook, Kent's outgoing director of cricket, said. "His experience of playing around the world not only benefits us on the field, but he is always willing to pass on his knowledge to our younger batters, something that will benefit us in the long term."

Wayne Madsen, Derbyshire's club captain, has signed a one-year contract extension for the County Championship next season. Madsen, 42, announced in July that he would no longer play in the T20 Blast moving forwards, and his new deal only covers red-ball cricket.

This year, Derbyshire finished sixth in Division Two, but Madsen said he wants to be promoted next year. "The County Championship is so important to me and I know how much it means to our members and supporters," he said. "Getting back to Division One is a goal I still have, and I'll do everything I can to help us achieve it."