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Cricket Australia has announced a relatively stable men’s contract list for a bumper 2025/26 season, but there have still been several big calls made . With the World Test Championship final, a Test tour of the West Indies and a home Ashes series on the horizon, there have been some big hints dropped as to the make-up of Pat Cummins’ side going forward. Two of the emerging stars of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph during the home summer have been rewarded, while the spinning pecking order in the longest form of the game has been made clear.
Watch NZ vs Pakistan T20I & ODI Series LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer . Plus, a verdict has been handed down on a budding all-rounder who benefited from several controversial selection calls in recent months, as well as two regular members of white-ball squads across the past 12 months.
Test cricket and next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka are the clear focus of this contract list — and here are the winners and losers from Tuesday’s announcement. CRICKET AUSTRALIA REVEALS LIST OF CONTRACTED MEN’S PLAYERS FOR 2025/26 SEASON WINNERS Sam Konstas An unknown entity six months ago, Sam Konstas has received a maiden national contract following a whirlwind summer with the willow. The teenager made his Test debut in front of a record crowd at the MCG, with his Boxing Day blitz stunning India’s bowlers and capturing the nation’s attention.
However, the right-hander was dropped for the recent Test tour of Sri Lanka, with Travis Head elevated to opener in a horses-for-courses selection. Regardless, with only two Test caps under his belt, Konstas looms as the leading candidate to open along veteran Usman Khawaja during the World Test Champions final and the Ashes. Beau Webster After a decade of dominance at domestic level, Beau Webster has finally been rewarded by the national selectors with a maiden national contract.
The Tasmanian all-rounder, capable of bowling medium pace and off spin, earned an unexpected Test call-up for the New Year’s contest against India, notching a half-century and hitting the winning runs in a memorable debut performance. However, he will be fighting the likes of Cameron Green and Josh Inglis for the No. 6 spot ahead of the World Test Championship final and next summer’s Ashes campaign.
Matthew Kuhnemann It’s been a rollercoaster couple of months for Matthew Kuhnemann, who was at risk of copping a ban from bowling at international level. The Tasmanian spinner was the leading wicket-taker during the recent Warne–Muralitharan Trophy campaign in Sri Lanka, but was reported for a suspect bowling action during the series finale in Galle. The 28-year-old was cleared of any wrongdoing after undergoing independent testing in Brisbane, and he has since cemented his status as Nathan Lyon’s second-in-command with a maiden national contract.
Conditions pending, Kuhnemann may make his Test return during the upcoming tour of the West Indies. Mitchell Marsh Australian selectors have thrown their support behind Mitchell Marsh and offered him a national contract despite a woeful home summer with the bat. The West Australian all-rounder was dropped from the Test side ahead of the New Year’s Test in Sydney, while he missed the recent Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan due to injury.
However, the 33-year-old remains a crucial member of Australia’s white-ball teams, particularly with another T20 World Cup campaign on the horizon. Speaking of why Marsh won another contract, selectors chair George Bailey said: “He has an incredibly important roll to play. “He’s still our T20 captain.
I think he’s still a valuable member of the white ball side and I don’t think his red ball career is over either. There is an incredible skill set there.” Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris The injury-riddled duo of Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris remain firmly in Australia’s plans despite infrequent appearances in national colours.
The West Australian quicks have battled injury throughout their careers, missing several Sheffield Shield matches this season to focus on rehabilitation and management. Richardson hasn’t represented Australia in any format since June 2022, while Morris has only played one ODI over the last 12 months. Bailey was asked about the duo winning contracts despite rarely featuring for their nation and suggested that featuring in the Test arena was not out of the question.
“They have some great skills ...
we have invested in that and the journey is ongoing. Hopefully both of them can be in the position for Test matches” LOSERS Nathan McSweeney Fresh off his Sheffield Shield triumph, South Australian captain Nathan McSweeney has missed out on a national contract following a topsy-turvy summer. After making his international debut during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener in Perth, the right-hander lost his spot to teenage prodigy Sam Konstas ahead of the Boxing Day Test.
However, McSweeney was picked for the recent tour of Sri Lanka as a reserve batter, while he remains a Test prospect for the future in the middle order. Cooper Connolly One of the most exciting young talents in the country, Connolly was not offered a national contract despite making his international debut in all three formats over the last 12 months. The West Australian all-rounder was a standout performer in this summer’s Big Bash League, also earning his baggy green during the recent Test tour of Sri Lanka.
However, in seven appearances for Australia, Connolly has contributed 14 runs at 4.66 and taken one wicket at 134.00.
Sean Abbott Sean Abbott has been the reserve seamer in Australia’s white-ball teams for several years, but the New South Welshman has seemingly fallen down the pecking order. Since helping Australia win the 2023 World Cup, Abbott’s ODI contributions have left a lot to be desired - since September, he has taken five wickets at 70.00 in the format.
With Nathan Ellis flourishing in national colours and Xavier Bartlett patiently waiting in the wings, Abbott may have played his final match for Australia, failing to earn a national contract. Abbott was among the trio of axed stars who Bailey described as being “stiff” to have missed out. “All 3 guys dropping off were all in some ways stiff .
.. despite not getting a contract they are still valued, they haven’t dropped (off the) pecking order” Todd Murphy Within two years, Todd Murphy has slipped from Nathan Lyon’s undisputed heir apparent to third - or perhaps even fourth - on the pecking order.
The spectacled tweaker impressed during his maiden Test assignment in India in 2023, also replacing the injured Lyon during that year’s Ashes campaign. However, after a couple of disappointing summers in the Sheffield Shield, fellow spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Corey Rocchiccioli are heaping pressure on the Victorian, who has dropped off the national contract list. Murphy, who was axed for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, will turn his attention towards the 2027 Test tour of India.
Aaron Hardie Aaron Hardie has fallen off the national contract list after repeatedly failing to seize his opportunities in Australian colours. The 26-year-old forced his way into the national set-up following a prolific couple of summers with Western Australian and the Perth Scorchers, but having not scored a half-century in 26 white-ball appearances for Australia, he was sidelined during the recent Champions Trophy in Pakistan. With Cameron Green’s return looming, Hardie may find it difficult to force his way back into Australia’s starting XI.
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