Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson awarded first England Women central contracts

Batter Maia Bouchier (left) and all-rounder Danielle Gibson (right) both feature in England's squad to face India in a three-match T20 series, starting on Wednesday

Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson have been awarded their first England Women central contracts.

Batter Bouchier, 24, and all-rounder Gibson, 22, are two of 18 players to secure central contracts for 2023-24.

Young bowlers Mahika Gaur, 17, and Lauren Filer, 22, have been given development contacts, as has wicketkeeper Bess Heath, 22.

Katherine Sciver-Brunt is no longer on contract after her retirement, while bowler Freya Davies has lost her deal.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said the contracts "provide significant structural improvements to meet player needs".

The deals include "enhanced family provision entitlement, a bonus structure that rewards success against higher-ranked opposition, increases to the value of retainers and the equalisation of match fees with England men".

England women's match fees for internationals were increased to equal the men's with immediate effect in August after it was recommended in the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket report, which found discrimination is "widespread" in English and Welsh cricket.

Bouchier, who turns 25 on Tuesday, made her 50-over debut for England in the one-day series against Sri Lanka in September, having also played in the preceding T20 series against the same opposition.

Gibson made her debut for England in the Women's Ashes earlier this year and has played six times for England at T20 level, also featuring alongside Bouchier in the T20 series defeat by Sri Lanka.

Gaur made her England debut against Sri Lanka, having previously represented United Arab Emirates.

Fellow fast bowler Filer made her England debut in the sole Ashes Test against Australia in the summer, with Heath making her England debut in the third and final match of the ODI series win over Sri Lanka in September.

Seamer Davies, 28, featured once during the multi-format women's Ashes and has not played for England since 1 July.

Of the 21 players with either central or development contracts, 19 have travelled to India for the upcoming three-match T20 series and one-off Test, with fast bowlers Tash Farrant and Issy Wong not in the senior squad.

Farrant is recovering from a recurrence of a back stress fracture, while Wong played a starring role for England A in a T20 series win over India A last week, after struggling with her run-up in the summer.

The India series will be key preparation for England women's before the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October next year.

Director of England Women's Cricket, Jonathan Finch, said: "The Central Contracts are awarded to the players we feel will play a significant role over the next 12 months and beyond.

"We are at the start of an unprecedented busy period of international cricket and the group reflects the requirements of the multi-format schedule we face.

"Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson have been part of our group over the summer, have performed well and will be important players for England moving forward."

England Women central contracts 2023-24

Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze)

Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers)

Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers)

Alice Capsey (South East Stars)

Kate Cross (Thunder)

Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers)

Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)

Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)

Tash Farrant (South East Stars)

Danielle Gibson (Western Storm)

Sarah Glenn (The Blaze)

Amy Jones (Central Sparks)

Freya Kemp (Southern Vipers)

Heather Knight (Western Storm)

Emma Lamb (Thunder)

Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze)

Issy Wong (Central Sparks)

Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers)

England Women development contract list

Bess Heath (Northern Diamonds)

Lauren Filer (Western Storm)

Mahika Gaur (Thunder)