Cricket Australia recently announced their contract list for the upcoming season which included a lot of fresh faces but missed out on several key players.
Cricket Australia (CA) announced its central contracts for the upcoming 2024–25 season, featuring a blend of experience and exciting new talent. While veterans like Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, and Glenn Maxwell remain mainstays, four new players have earned their stripes – Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matt Short, and Aaron Hardie.
Bartlett, a young talent, represents a significant investment in emerging players with the other three additions, who secured their spots through consistent performances in ODIs and T20Is throughout the season.
“Matt, Aaron, and Xavier have been extremely impressive in the early stages of their international careers. Their performances and the way they have embraced the international stage have been exciting to watch. The panel believes they have strong futures and deserve their contracts as they work towards striving to become regulars in the Australian setup,” said national selection chair George Bailey, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
Notably, seasoned all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, despite being considered for the T20 World Cup squad, missed the contract. Last year’s contracted players, Ashton Agar, Marcus Harris, and Michael Neser, shared the same fate. Matt Renshaw, who recently filled the gap left by Warner’s Test retirement as a backup batter, and T20 specialist Tim David also failed to secure contracts.
Interestingly, Jhye Richardson, who has not played internationally since June 2022 due to injuries, retained his contract.
Here is the full list of Australia’s players contracted for the season 2024–25:
- Sean Abbott
- Xavier Bartlett
- Scott Boland
- Alex Carey
- Pat Cummins
- Nathan Ellis
- Cameron Green
- Aaron Hardie
- Josh Hazlewood
- Travis Head
- Josh Inglis
- Usman Khawaja
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Nathan Lyon
- Mitchell Marsh
- Glenn Maxwell
- Lance Morris
- Todd Murphy
- Jhye Richardson
- Matt Short
- Steve Smith
- Mitchell Starc
- Adam Zampa
This mix of established stars and promising newcomers shares an exciting picture for Australian cricket. Young talents like Xavier and Todd Murphy join forces with experienced performers like Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, creating a well-rounded squad with the potential for a successful season.
Last Updated on March 28, 2024
