In a momentous six days for our national team, England have won their first home limited-overs series since 2004 and begun their pursuit of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 title in South Africa.

To spice those dishes, the ECB has revealed its new list of central contracts and also chosen the 15 players for a five-match one-day series in Sri Lanka next month.

Such is the diversity of international cricket that the ECB has selected no fewer than 25 players - more than two complete teams - to cope with the demands of the five-day, 50-over and 20-over formats.

Only four of the dozen centrally contracted players - James Anderson, Paul Collingwood (the limited-overs captain), Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen - have been considered sufficiently versatile to cope with all three genres.

Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom (currently injured) are new recruits. Absent from last year's list of 13 are Marcus Trescothick (ill), Simon Jones (recovering from injury) and Ashley Giles (retired).

For the second year in succession no wicket-keeper has been granted a contract.

Centrally contracted players are paid by the ECB and released to their counties when England's head coach, Peter Moores, considers it appropriate.

The contracts are in three bands ranging from £180,000 to £115,000 according to whether or not they are likely to be selected for limited-overs games as well as Tests.

Michael Vaughan and Steve Harmison have retired from the one-day stuff, while Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Strauss have been dropped.

To simplify these confusing lists of names, I can offer a table for you to preserve and cherish. It shows who has been chosen for what and could win you a few pints of Wadworth's in your local.

KEY

  • 1 = Central Contracts 2007-08
  • 2 = ICC World Twenty-20
  • 3 = Sri Lanka One-Dayers

    James ANDERSON 1 2 3
    Ian BELL 1 3
    Ravi BOPARA 3
    Stuart BROAD 2 3
    Paul COLLINGWOOD 1 2 3
    Alastair COOK 1 3
    Andrew FLINTOFF 1 2 3
    Stephen HARMISON 1
    Matthew HOGGARD 1
    James KIRTLEY 2
    Darren MADDY 2
    Dimitri MASCARENHAS 2 3
    Monty PANESAR 1 3
    Kevin PIETERSEN 1 2 3
    Matthew PRIOR 2 3
    Chris SCHOFIELD 2
    Owais SHAH 2 3
    Ryan SIDEBOTTOM 1 3
    Jeremy SNAPE 2
    Vikram SOLANKI 2
    Andrew STRAUSS 1
    Graeme SWANN 3
    Chris TREMLETT 2
    Michael VAUGHAN 1
    Luke WIGHT 2 3

    The World Twenty20 tournament that began in South Africa on Tuesday will extend the current tally of 19 Twenty20 internationals by 27 matches.

The 12 teams (ten Test-playing countries plus Kenya and Scotland) are divided into four groups of three.

Each team plays the other two teams in its group once, the top two going through to one of the two Super 8s Pools.

England are grouped with Australia and Zimbabwe.

They have only to beat Zimbabwe to join (probably) India, New Zealand and South Africa in the Super 8s.

There they will play the other three teams once, with the top two going through to the semi-finals. The final will be played at Johannesburg on September 24, starting at noon BST.