LONDON: Injured all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was awarded an incremental contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the next 12 months here on Friday.

Flintoff, 31, who is recovering from knee surgery, did not qualify for a full central contract as he retired from Test cricket after the end of the Ashes series win over Australia.

But wicketkeeper Matt Prior, off-spinner Graeme Swann and pace bowler Graham Onions are among the 11 players awarded the full, annual deals which give England coach Andy Flower a say over when and where his leading players play and when they rest.

But fast bowler Stephen Harmison and left-arm spinner Monty Panesar have been completely overlooked.

The contracts run from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010.