A few days after being excluded from the Australia squad for the Champions Trophy, James Faulkner was omitted from CA’s proposed list for central contracts for the forthcoming season © AFP
Allrounder James Faulkner and batsman Shaun Marsh are not a part of Cricket Australia’s proposed list of centrally contracted players for the 2017-18 season. The Australian board named 33 male and female players on the list on Monday, and offered contracts for the first time to left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, fast bowler Billy Stanlake and batting allrounder Hilton Cartwright. Batsman Matthew Renshaw, who impressed on the tour of India, has also been offered a contract.
Apart from Faulkner and Marsh, wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, fast bowler Peter Siddle. left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe and batsmen Joe Burns and George Bailey have not been named on the list this season. Faulkner, incidentally, was also left out of the team for the Champions Trophy, his first omission from an Australia squad for an ICC event since 2011.
Trevor Hohns, chairman of Australia’s selection panel, said players had been picked on their potential to play for Australia in all three formats over the next 12 months, with assignments like the Ashes in the home summer and an away Test series in South Africa in March next year.
“We have selected 20 players for this year’s contract list with a focus on players who we believe could play a part in an exciting 12 months of cricket, which includes the Ashes and an important away Test Series against South Africa,” Hohns said. “Consideration has also been given to some players who we believe could potentially play in all three formats for Australia.”
Cartwright, the second-highest run-getter in the 2016-17 Sheffield Shield, Renshaw and Peter Handscomb all made their Test debuts over the home summer as Australia sought to revamp their side following a stunning defeat against South Africa in Hobart, where they were dismissed for totals of 85 and 161.
Agar, who has not played a Test since his debut in the Ashes in 2013, last played an international for Australia in March last year but was one of the four spinners the team picked for the India tour. Stanlake, meanwhile, was given a debut in the limited-overs matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka and Hohns said the selectors wanted to monitor his progress, similar to what they had done with Pat Cummins.
“Hilton has thoroughly earned his spot in the list this year,” Hohns said. “He was the second highest runs scorer in the Sheffield Shield last season and, when given his opportunity with the Test side last summer, he impressed.
“He is an exciting prospect for Australian cricket and we look forward to seeing him perform for Australia in the coming 12 months, if given his opportunity.
“Ashton is a talented young player who we consider offers a fantastic package with his batting, bowling and fielding, and someone who is capable of playing all forms of the game.
“Billy has picked up the last spot on the contract list for the coming season. We see him as a player of immense talent and a great option for Australia in the future. We want to be able to monitor his progress in the coming 12 months, not dissimilar to what we have done with Pat Cummins in the past.”
Among the women’s cricketers, 19-year-old legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington was offered a contract for the first time, while Rachael Haynes was given a contract for the first time in four years. Wellington impressed over the summer, bagging 17 wickets in eight limited-overs appearances, while Haynes recently made a comeback to the ODI side after three years.
Both male and female cricketers can earn an upgraded CA contract through national selection. Players are required to earn 12 upgrade points. Male cricketers can earn five points for a Test selection, two points for an ODI and one point for a T20I. In case of female cricketers, a Test selection can earn a player four points, with two points each for an ODI and a T20 international.
CA announced that following the national contract offers, state and territory cricket associations will now commence non-binding discussions, which will include communication of their intention to offer contracts to cricketers throughout Australia. These discussions will be finalized once a new Memorandum of Understanding between CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association is place, which is scheduled to happen by July 1.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo