Australia’s fast-bowling back-up earn central contracts, Marcus Harris also gets deal

By Charlie On Apr 6, 2023

Offspinner Todd Murphy has also been offered a contract after his outstanding start to Test cricket in India. Legpsinner Mitchell Swepson is the one active international player to lose his deal alongside the retired Aaron Finch.

Perhaps surprisingly, opening batter Marcus Harris has earned a place on the list despite not playing Test cricket since the 2021-22 Ashes while Peter Handscomb and Matt Renshaw, who have both featured this year, have been overlooked.

Handscomb impressed on his return to Test cricket in India, especially on the three difficult surfaces in Nagpur, Delhi and Indore.

Under the new MoU which was signed earlier this week, the selectors were able to offer up to 24 contracts instead of the previous limit of 20 and all the slots have been used. The group of players has been picked with a specific focus on Test and ODI cricket with the upcoming World Test Championship final and Ashes followed by the World Cup in India.

“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,” national selector George 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.”

Alongside the regular Test fast-bowling attack – Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and, if fit, Josh Hazlewood – Australia will likely need to make use of the depth on offer during the England tour.

Morris, the Western Australia quick, has been around the squad since the past home season without yet making his debut. Neser played the Adelaide Test against West Indies and could be an ideal fit for conditions in England.

Richardson, who was dropped from last year’s list, is currently recovering from another hamstring injury but remains highly regarded by the selectors and may come into plans for the ODI World Cup, as could Abbott who earned an upgrade to a contract during the previous season having played enough matches.

Players not awarded contracts as part of the initial squad of 24 can earn upgrades throughout the year by accruing 12 upgrade points. Players receive five points for a Test match, two for an ODI and two for a T20I.

Cummins will remain Australia’s highest paid cricketer with earnings up to AU$3million for the year when captaincy bonuses are factored in.

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

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