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Cricket Australia (CA) on April 1 announced the 2025-26 men's contract list featuring 23 players. Youngster Sam Konstas, all-rounder Beau Webster, who featured in Australia's Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 win, have been rewarded with their maiden contract. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann who was recently reported and then cleared of suspected bowling action has earned the contract too on the back of stellar performance on Sri Lankan soil in two-Test series.
The notable absenteness from the long list of players are all-rounders Sean Abbott, Aaron Hardie and young off-spinner Todd Murphy.
Mitchell Marsh who missed the Champions Trophy 2025 due to back injury and is playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 only as a batter was retained as well. Chief selector George Bailey said there will be a healthy competition for the all-rounder spot with Cameron Green getting back on track after injury ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final against South Africa at the Lord's. Bailey lauded the three new additions to the contract list as well.
"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 and chance to get contract upgrade
Two young players who did not make their maiden contracts are all-rounder Cooper Connolly and Nathan McSweeney. Connolly made his debut across all formats in last six months. However, he failed to make a mark when picked as replacement for an injured Matt Short in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal against India. McSweeney was dropped from the Test squad during the BGT series but was picked as a back-up batter for Sri Lanka tour. Both youngsters were not part of last season's initial list but got contract upgrades.
Apart from Abbott, Hardie and Connolly, four other players -- Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tanveer Sangha -- from Champions Trophy 2025 squad did not feature in the contract list either.
Veteran all-rounder Marcus Stoinis who announced retirement from ODIs and Tim David did not get a contract despite being in the mix for the T20 World Cup next year.
However, the non-contracted players can feature in the list if they meet the criteria of number of matches played on the international level in next 12 months.
