Cricket Australia (CA) on Thursday (Mar 28) released the central contract list for 2024-25 with 23 players making the cut. The list features several surprising omissions as well as additions, especially considering the T20 World Cup is just on the horizon.
Star all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who was part of Australia’s World Cup-winning squad last year, did not find a place in the contract list. Despite being an integral part of the T20 team, Stoinis’s exclusion has surprised many, with pundits attributing it to the string of injuries he has suffered in recent times.
Apart from Stoinis, the likes of Ashton Agar, opener Marcus Harris, pacer Michel Neser and the retiring David Warner have been slipped off the list. Neser would be disappointed mightily as the pacer has been on the fringes for a long time, despite getting little game time.
Young inclusions
Meanwhile, up-and-coming pacer Xavier Bartlett (25), alongside Nathan Ellis (29) has landed a lucrative CA contract. Matt Short (28), and Western Australia allrounder Aaron Hardie (25) are the other two fresh faces, included in the list.
“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 has been exciting to watch,” said national selection chair George Bailey.
“The panel believes they have strong futures and are deserved of their contracts as they work towards striving to become regulars in the Australian setup,” he added.
Australia are the defending champions and would be hoping to go for a second consecutive title with the potent squad they have. The World Cup starts immediately after the culmination of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is being organised in the US and Caribbean this time around.
The team from Down Under will open the campaign against Oman on June 6 before squaring off against arch-rivals England on June 8.
CA contracted men’s players 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
(With inputs from agencies)
