Cricket Australia (CA) announced on April 01, the 2025-26 men's contract list featuring 23 players. Notable new entrants in the contract list are Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Series debutantes Sam Konstas and all-rounder Beau Webster. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was recently reported for suspect action and cleared off during the Sri Lanka series & has also earned his maiden central contract on the back of impressing selectors in the two-match Test series.
Sean, Abbott, Aaron Hardie, and Todd Murphy are the three notable absentees from the contract list. However, the selectors have persisted with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, despite him missing out on Champions Trophy squad due to back injury. Marsh is also playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for LSG as a specialist batter.
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Chief selector George Bailey said that there will be healthy competition for the all-rounder spot, with Cameron Green also getting back on track after a long injury layoff. Bailey was effusive in praise of the three new additions to the contract list.
"Matt (Kuhnemann) was outstanding once again in Sri Lanka, and we believe he can play a key role across the next 18 months," said Bailey in a statement.
"In Beau’s case, he proved more than comfortable at Test level with bat and ball, adds an additional dimension in the field and to the balance of the side.
"With Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh returning, there will be welcome and healthy competition for places for the World Test Championship and West Indies tours.
"In Sam, we see promising upside in a young player who will continue to develop at first-class level and in the international environment.
Players who missed out on the contract list have a golden chance to get an upgrade
Notably, two young players who did not make their maiden contract list are all-arounders Cooper Connolly and Nathan McSweeney. Connolly, who made his debut across formats in the last six months and is touted as the next big thing from Australia & failed to make a mark in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against India. Meanwhile, McSweeny was dropped from the BGT after failing to impress in the first two Test matches.
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Jake Fraser McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Tanveer Sangha, and Ben Dwarshuis also failed to make the cut for the Australia Contract list for the 2025-26 season.
However, all hope is not lost, as the non-contracted players can feature in the list if they meet the criteria of the number of matches played on the international level in the next 12 months.
