Young, Quick and Centrally Contracted

James Anderson's World Cup was so successful that he was acclaimed as English cricket's new pin-up. Steve Harmison, in his constant inability to hit the pitch, was more of a wide boy. But both fast bowlers received a show of faith yesterday when the England and Wales Cricket Board awarded them six-month central contracts to cover the summer's international programme.

English cricket faces a bleak financial summer because of the potential fallout of the Zimbabwe affair, but it would have taken virtual bankruptcy for England not to take firm control of their two most prized young fast-bowling assets. From the moment that David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, nominated them, the ECB would have agreed even if it meant putting the bill on Visa.

The thinking behind the awarding of the deals was two-fold: firstly, to recognise the achievements of young players in the international arena and secondly, to enable the coach Duncan Fletcher to manage the amount of cricket our players are involved in, according to Graveney.

By just awarding two, alongside the nine players already midway through 12-month deals - Nasser Hussain, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Andrew Flintoff, Alec Stewart, Ashley Giles, Andy Caddick and Matthew Hoggard - it represents a curbing of the England coach's stated ambition to swell the number to 20.

After a largely disconsolate winter, in both Australia and at the World Cup, however, it would have been difficult for the international teams management group, chaired by Warwickshire's chief executive, Dennis Amiss, to uncover many more worthwhile candidates.

Paul Collingwood, for sure, but for his unfortunate injury to a shoulder on the eve of the season; Darren Gough, if England really believe that his international career is not over and that he is deserving of support at a critical time; Warwickshire's Jamie Troughton as the brightest of the unproven batsmen; Chris Read as the wicketkeeper-in-waiting.

Stewart received a central contract belatedly in the middle of last summer, after his decision to skip the tour of India had initially made it more likely he would receive his P45, so there is a precedent for late additions. Fears of a swingeing financial punishment for not fulfilling their World Cup commitment in Harare makes that unlikely, however.

Graveney predicted that both young quicks will have long and successful careers, but while Anderson's 10 World Cup wickets convinced most that here was a player of considerable skill and self-possession, a feat achieved even though he was midway through the remodelling of his action, Harmison's pedigree remains debatable.

Both Anderson and Harmison are strikingly shy for fast bowlers - it is impossible to imagine Australia producing such a duo - but only in Harmison does this make him occasionally hesitant and unassertive on the field. At 24, four years older than Anderson, he needs to progress.

Anderson said his challenge is "to win a regular place in the Test side, carry on where I left off in the winter and not get too carried away by all the publicity". Harmison, who played four Ashes Tests last winter, reflected that "it doesn't come any tougher. Hopefully the experience has made me a better cricketer and I can build on it this summer."