Last Update: Apr 06, 2023, 08:56 AM IST
Todd Murphy was rewarded for a wonderful tour of India. (AFP photo)
Cricket Australia has revealed its list of 24 contracted players with the surprise return of Marcus Harris
An impressive tour of India handed off-spinner Todd Murphy his first central contract with Australia announcing an extended list of 24 players. Murphy made his Test debut in India and took 14 wickets in four matches.
Apart from Murphy, new pacer Lance Morris has also been handed a contract despite not having played any Tests since January 2022, with Marcus Harris a surprise selection. The opener though has been a part of several Australian teams despite not playing.
Harris appears to have fallen behind Renshaw in the pecking order but is now in competition with David Warner to open for Australia in the Ashes in England in June. Warner is currently playing for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, where he is the captain of the team.
The pace duo of Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson have also made the cut after being dropped last year.
However, the likes of Peter Handscomb and Matt Renshaw have been overlooked.
Handscomb returned to Australia’s Test lineup for the recent tour of India after averaging 70 in the Sheffield Shield domestic first-class competition for Victoria, and played in all four Tests in a series which the hosts won 2–1. . Potentially working against him was the fact that next year Australia do not tour the subcontinent, where Handscomb is largely regarded as most effective.
Chief selector George Bailey said: “The two big challenges on the Test front are on our doorstep, the World Test Championship and the Ashes, followed immediately by the ICC One-Day World Cup.” “We have selected a group of players that we expect will form the majority of those two campaigns and we know we will need a squad mentality to achieve success.”
National men’s cricket contracts in Australia average 951,000 Australian dollars ($638,000) under the sport’s new wage agreement, with players automatically off the upgraded list from home state team contracts if they play enough international cricket.
The first Test of the five-match Ashes series begins on June 16 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Just before that match, Australia will play India in the World Test Championship final from June 7-11 at The Oval in London.
ODI Cricket The World Cup is starting in India in early October.
Australia’s contracted male players: Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy , Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
with AP inputs
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