Former captain Michael Vaughan has been awarded a 12-month central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Vaughan, 33, resigned as skipper after defeat in the fourth Test against South Africa at Edgbaston in early August.
During an emotional press conference he spoke of his determination to earn a tour place, but has since made only 29 runs in three innings for Yorkshire.
"Michael still has a role to play," chief selector Geoff Miller insisted. Stuart Broad also wins a 12-month deal.
Broad's elevation to the 12-man list of contracted players comes at the expense of fellow seamer Matthew Hoggard, who has not played for England since the first Test in New Zealand in early March, and has not received a new contract.
In addition, seven players who represented England during the summer have been given 12-month Increment contracts, including wicketkeepers Matt Prior and Tim Ambrose.
One-day specialists Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Owais Shah, Graeme Swann and Luke Wright have also been rewarded with Increment deals.
These players will earn points for playing in one-day internationals and Tests in the next 12 months and if a certain level is reached it will entitle them to full-contract status.
"It's a recognition of how far some of the players on the fringe have come in the last 12 months and an important step forward," England managing director Hugh Morris said.
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Vaughan's contract does not mean he is guaranteed a place on the winter tour of India, as Andrew Strauss discovered to his cost last year.
The Test squad will be selected at the end of the English domestic season and Miller said of Vaughan's prospects: "It's not just technique, it's about how mentally strong he is and we'll take all that into consideration."
Reacting to criticism that Vaughan's contract was merely a reward for past achievements Miller said: "We are rewarding him not just for what he's done but what he's capable of doing."
The national selector explained that skipper Kevin Pietersen was consulted about Vaughan's contract but did not demand that he should receive one.
"We made the decision and Kevin is quite happy about it," Miller said. "He said he would like Michael Vaughan in the side, and we listen to Kevin's viewpoints, if he's playing well Michael is a vital member of the side."
The contract covers next summer's Ashes, and Vaughan's Test average of 47 against Australia was taken into account.
Also, Pietersen is known to hold Vaughan in high regard and Miller added: "As we build toward the Ashes, we feel that Michael's experience of previous Ashes campaigns will be an important asset to the squad.
"We've got a good blend of youth and exerience, and Michael is very much part of that."
Broad earned his first central contract after taking five wickets in the final Test of the summer against South Africa and adding eight wickets against them in the one-day series.
Miller said: "Stuart has made rapid progress over the past year and adapted extremely well to the challenges of both Test and one-day international cricket."
England central contracts: James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan.
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