Cricket Australia have announced their expanded contract list for the men’s cricketers for the next 12 months. There were a few new faces in the contract list and it signifies their persistent hard-work over the past 1 year.
Spinner Todd Murphy has been one of the key additions to the contract list by Cricket Australia. The 22-year-old right arm off-break bowler impressed one and all in the recently-concluded Border Gavaskar Test Series and hence paved his way to the contract list.
One surprising addition was Marcus Harris, who last played in the Ashes in 2021-22. He will now most probably be ahead in the pecking order for Australia in Tests.
“Looking ahead, back in England and another home summer then some Tests in New Zealand, we certainly rate Harry’s ability in those conditions. He has a really, good strong record in England as well.
One of our criteria when doing the contracts is past performance, but certainly one is an eye to the future as well so perhaps gives an indication of where we hold Harry,” said George Bailey, the nation selector of Cricket Australia.
Contrast List of Cricket Australia for 2023-24
Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
A total of 24 cricketers have been chosen for the list instead of the normal 20. 4 fast bowlers in the form of Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Sean Abbott and Lance Morris have earned call-ups to this list.
Players who missed out on the contract list
Retired cricketer Aaron Finch was not included as he has drawn curtains on his international career. Peter Handscomb and Matthew Renshaw too have been overlooked for the contract list.
In the 4 Test matches between India and Australia in 2023, Handscomb scored 145 runs at a paltry average of 29.00. Leg spinner Michael Swepson has also been omitted from the list published by Cricket Australia.
Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann too was left out of the contract list. Kuhnemann has so far played 3 Test matches for Australia and has bagged 9 wickets. He also has played 4 ODIs for the Ozzies and has managed to get only 2 scalps.
Notably, he had made his debut in the Border Gavaskar Test Series against India after Swepson returned home after the 1st Test for personal reasons.
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