Marcus Harris also secures a deal, and Australia’s fast-bowling backup gets central contracts

Lance Morris, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, and Sean Abbott all received contracts in the expanded men’s central contract list for the upcoming 12 months, making them Australia’s backup fast bowlers.

Following his great start to Test cricket in India, offspinner Todd Murphy has also been given a contract. Alongside the retired Aaron Finch, only international player Mitchell Swepson is still playing professionally.

Although he hasn’t played in a Test match since the 2021–22 Ashes, opening batsman Marcus Harris has managed to make the list, while Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, who have both played this year, have been passed over.

On his return to Test cricket in India, Handscomb made an impression, particularly on the three challenging surfaces in Nagpur, Delhi, and Indore.

It now seems that Harris has the front-runner to be selected for the Ashes squad and be next in line when a vacancy arises at the top of the order. Harris served as the backup batter throughout the home summer before being overtaken by Renshaw in Sydney when the selectors had their eyes on the India tour.

That might occur when the team is in England because of the doubts around David Warner’s form. In the 2019 Ashes, Harris replaced Cameron Bancroft in the lineup, but like Warner, he was destroyed by England’s quicks’ around-the-wicket line. 

Nevertheless, he has six hundreds and an average of 47.62 in county cricket, where he will soon begin a new stint with Gloucestershire.

“Looking ahead, back in England and another home summer then some Tests in New Zealand, we certainly rate Harry’s ability in those conditions,” national selector George Bailey said. 

“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.”

The selectors were permitted to offer up to 24 contracts under the new MoU, which was signed earlier this week, as opposed to the previous cap of 20. However, all available seats have already been filled. 

In light of the approaching World Test Championship final, Ashes, and India’s hosting of the World Cup, the group of players has been chosen with a focus on Test and ODI cricket.

“We have chosen a group of players we expect will form the majority of those two campaigns and we know that we will need a squad mentality to achieve success,”

Bailey said. 

“As we find each year now, there is a lot of cricket in the next six to 12 months and our depth will be tested. The six Test matches during the winter are in relatively short succession and we have a busy period of white-ball cricket leading up to, and post, the ODI World Cup.”

Australia will probably need to utilise the depth available during the England visit in addition to the normal Test fast-bowling assault, which consists of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, and, if healthy, Josh Hazlewood.

Morris, a fast bowler from Western Australia, has been a member of the team since the previous home season but has not yet played. Neser, who participated in the Adelaide Test against the West Indies, might be the perfect fit for the circumstances in England.

The selectors still hold Richardson, who was cut from the list last year and is currently recovering from a new hamstring injury, in high regard. Richardson, like Abbott, who was upgraded to a contract after playing enough games the previous season, may be considered for the ODI World Cup.

“We’ve been very fortunate in the longevity and robustness of our best fast bowlers and for the most part they’ve played multiple formats as well,” Bailey said. “Clearly we’ve seen over the last 12 months, and we expect going forward, through nothing else than the sheer weight of cricket, that we need a squad of fast bowlers.

“We need to ensure we have a clear pathway and a bit of a succession plan as well. Offering contracts to some players gives us the opportunity to sit down and have a really strong conversation around what the next 12 months will look like for them.”

Throughout the year, players who were not given contracts as part of the initial roster of 24 can upgrade by accumulating 12 upgrade points. Players gain two points for an ODI, two points for a T20I, and five points for a Test match.

When captaincy bonuses are taken into account, Pat Cummins will continue to earn up to AU$3 million for the year, making him the highest-paid cricketer in Australia. Under the new MoU, the typical contract is approximately AU$951,000.
Australia men’s contracts: 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

Lance Morris, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, and Sean Abbott all received contracts in the expanded men’s central contract list for the upcoming 12 months, making them Australia’s backup fast bowlers.

Following his great start to Test cricket in India, offspinner Todd Murphy has also been given a contract. Alongside the retired Aaron Finch, only international player Mitchell Swepson is still playing professionally.

Although he hasn’t played in a Test match since the 2021–22 Ashes, opening batsman Marcus Harris has managed to make the list, while Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, who have both played this year, have been passed over.

On his return to Test cricket in India, Handscomb made an impression, particularly on the three challenging surfaces in Nagpur, Delhi, and Indore.

It now seems that Harris has the front-runner to be selected for the Ashes squad and be next in line when a vacancy arises at the top of the order. Harris served as the backup batter throughout the home summer before being overtaken by Renshaw in Sydney when the selectors had their eyes on the India tour.

That might occur when the team is in England because of the doubts around David Warner’s form. In the 2019 Ashes, Harris replaced Cameron Bancroft in the lineup, but like Warner, he was destroyed by England’s quicks’ around-the-wicket line. 

Nevertheless, he has six hundreds and an average of 47.62 in county cricket, where he will soon begin a new stint with Gloucestershire.

“Looking ahead, back in England and another home summer then some Tests in New Zealand, we certainly rate Harry’s ability in those conditions,” national selector George Bailey said. 

“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.”

The selectors were permitted to offer up to 24 contracts under the new MoU, which was signed earlier this week, as opposed to the previous cap of 20. However, all available seats have already been filled. 

In light of the approaching World Test Championship final, Ashes, and India’s hosting of the World Cup, the group of players has been chosen with a focus on Test and ODI cricket.

“We have chosen a group of players we expect will form the majority of those two campaigns and we know that we will need a squad mentality to achieve success,” Bailey said. 

“As we find each year now, there is a lot of cricket in the next six to 12 months and our depth will be tested. The six Test matches during the winter are in relatively short succession and we have a busy period of white-ball cricket leading up to, and post, the ODI World Cup.”

Australia will probably need to utilise the depth available during the England visit in addition to the normal Test fast-bowling assault, which consists of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, and, if healthy, Josh Hazlewood.

Morris, a fast bowler from Western Australia, has been a member of the team since the previous home season but has not yet played. Neser, who participated in the Adelaide Test against the West Indies, might be the perfect fit for the circumstances in England.

The selectors still hold Richardson, who was cut from the list last year and is currently recovering from a new hamstring injury, in high regard. Richardson, like Abbott, who was upgraded to a contract after playing enough games the previous season, may be considered for the ODI World Cup.

“We’ve been very fortunate in the longevity and robustness of our best fast bowlers and for the most part they’ve played multiple formats as well,” Bailey said. “Clearly we’ve seen over the last 12 months, and we expect going forward, through nothing else than the sheer weight of cricket, that we need a squad of fast bowlers.

“We need to ensure we have a clear pathway and a bit of a succession plan as well. Offering contracts to some players gives us the opportunity to sit down and have a really strong conversation around what the next 12 months will look like for them.”

Throughout the year, players who were not given contracts as part of the initial roster of 24 can upgrade by accumulating 12 upgrade points. Players gain two points for an ODI, two points for a T20I, and five points for a Test match.

When captaincy bonuses are taken into account, Pat Cummins will continue to earn up to AU$3 million for the year, making him the highest-paid cricketer in Australia. Under the new MoU, the typical contract is approximately AU$951,000.
Australia men’s contracts: 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