ROYALS' TURNER EARNS FIRST ENGLAND CONTRACT

New Paarl Royals fast bowler, John Turner is among a list of 29 players who have earned central contracts from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) starting from 1 October 2023.

Turner, who was recruited by Royals during the Season 2 player auction, will be on a development contract for the next year to support his development as a 'high potential talent'. The 22-year-old was actually born in Johannesburg and attended Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, where he was head boy and played first team cricket and hockey.

The quick bowler is one of 10 players signed to play in SA20 Season 2 who have earned England Men's contracts.

The list includes Jofra Archer (MI Cape Town), Jos Buttler (Paarl Royals), Brydon Carse (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Sam Curran (MI Cape Town), Liam Livingstone (MI Cape Town) and Adil Rashid (Pretoria Capitals) who all have been offered two-year contracts.

Moeen Ali (Joburg Super Kings), Dawid Malan (Sunrisers Eastern Cape) and Reece Topley (Durban's Super Giants) have been handed one-year deals.

For Gqeberha-born and raised Carse, 28, it is also the first time he has received an England Central Contract. The fast bowler and hard-hitting lower-order batter arrived in England in 2016 and has made his name at Durham. In the interim he has also played 12 one-day and three T20 internationals for the 'Three Lions'.

SA20 PLAYERS WITH ENGLAND CENTRAL CONTRACTS

Two-year contracts (2023-25): Jofra Archer (MI Cape Town), Jos Buttler (Paarl Royals), Brydon Carse (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Sam Curran (MI Cape Town), Liam Livingstone (MI Cape Town), Adil Rashid (Pretoria Capitals)

One-year contracts (2023-24): Moeen Ali (Joburg Super Kings), Dawid Malan (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Reece Topley (Durban's Super Giants)

Development contracts: John Turner (Paarl Royals)