Cricket Australia Unveils 2026-27 Men's National Contracts

Red-Ball Focus Drives Historic $1 Million Average Value

Cricket Australia has announced its 21-man men's national contract list for the 2026-27 season. This year's selections heavily emphasize Test cricket, a direct response to an extensive red-ball schedule planned over the next 12 months. The list introduces several new faces and sees some familiar players return, while notable names from the previous season have been omitted.

These new contracts mark a significant financial milestone, as their average value will exceed $1 million for the first time, excluding match payments and superannuation.

The focus on Test cricket underscores the strategic shift in player selection, prioritizing multi-format capabilities and red-ball specialists in anticipation of a demanding international calendar.

The Full 21-Man Squad

The following players have been offered national contracts for the 2026-27 season:

• Xavier Bartlett
• Scott Boland
• Alex Carey
• Pat Cummins
• Brendan Doggett
• Nathan Ellis
• Cameron Green
• Josh Hazlewood
• Travis Head
• Josh Inglis
• Matthew Kuhnemann
• Marnus Labuschagne
• Nathan Lyon
• Mitchell Marsh
• Todd Murphy
• Michael Neser
• Steve Smith
• Mitchell Starc
• Jake Weatherald
• Beau Webster
• Adam Zampa

New Faces and Welcome Returns

Paceman Brendan Doggett and opening batter Jake Weatherald have earned their first full national contracts. Doggett made his international debut against England in November, while Weatherald first appeared in the previous Ashes series. Both bowler Michael Neser and spinner Todd Murphy have returned to the contract list after previous absences.

Jake Weatherald is slated to continue as a Test opener and will prepare for the upcoming season with a county cricket stint in Leicestershire.

Significant Absences from the List

Six players from the previous contract list have not been retained, alongside Usman Khawaja's post-retirement omission.

The omitted players include:

• Sam Konstas: Omitted after a decline in performance following his Test debut.
• Glenn Maxwell: A T20 specialist.
• Lance Morris: A fast bowler.
• Jhye Richardson: A fast bowler, marking his second omission since 2022-23.
• Matt Short: An all-rounder.
• Cooper Connolly: An emerging player who made Test and white-ball appearances.

Usman Khawaja was not included in the new list following his retirement from Test cricket after the recent Ashes series.

Selection Rationale and Key Player Insights

Men's selectors chair George Bailey provided insight into the contract awards, highlighting that decisions considered both past performances and the demands of the upcoming international schedule. The primary focus was placed on Test and multi-format players, given the absence of major white-ball World Cups during the contract period.

Sam Konstas was removed from the list after his Test debut against India in the 2024 Boxing Day Test. Following an initial score of 60, he managed only 103 runs in nine subsequent Test innings, resulting in a disappointing average of 16.30. In the last Sheffield Shield season, he scored 660 runs at an average of 33, including one century across 20 innings. Despite the omission, Bailey affirmed selectors' continued interest in Konstas's future development, suggesting a potential Australia A tour to India later in the year.

Despite averaging 22.33 across five Tests against England, Jake Weatherald retained his contract. Bailey noted that Weatherald is actively working on technical aspects of his game, indicating confidence in his long-term potential.

Cooper Connolly recorded 28 runs at an average of 4.66 in 11 T20 Internationals before his contract removal. Notably, he later scored an impressive 72 from just 44 balls for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League.

Todd Murphy's return to the list is a strategic move to bolster Australia's spin options, particularly in anticipation of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India. This comes as veteran Nathan Lyon continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained during the recent Ashes series, with his future playing schedule potentially being managed.

Financial Overview: A Million-Dollar Milestone

The 2026-27 national contracts are groundbreaking, being the first with an average value exceeding $1 million, excluding match payments and superannuation. This financial uplift is a direct result of an annual 2 percent increment stipulated under the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association. The initial contract list is mandated to contain between 20 and 24 players, with provisions for non-contracted players to earn upgrades by meeting specific international match criteria.

Extensive International Schedule Ahead

Australia faces a heavy international calendar over the next 12 months, featuring 15 Tests alongside numerous white-ball matches. The demanding schedule includes:

• A two-match home Test series against Bangladesh in August.
• ODI tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa.
• A three-Test series in South Africa.
• A home white-ball series against England.
• A four-Test series against New Zealand at home.
• A five-Test series against India away (Border-Gavaskar Trophy).
• A 150th Anniversary Test match against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

George Bailey underscored the importance of continued collaboration with state cricket associations. This collaboration aims to ensure that non-contracted players are well-prepared and ready for international opportunities should they arise, given the extensive schedule.