Cricket Australia have dropped Marcus Harris from their men’s contract list, leaving the race wide open to become the Test team’s next opener.
Selectors on Thursday confirmed their 23-man contract list for this year, with Matt Short, Aaron Hardie, Nathan Ellis and Xavier Bartlett the big winners.
The news is not so good for Harris, Marcus Stoinis, Michael Neser and Ashton Agar, who each dropped off the list.
Also missing are Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw.
Western Australia’s Cameron Bancroft. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)
Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja are expected to hold their spots at the top of the Test order into next summer’s series against India – but identifying new long-term openers remains the biggest question mark for Australia.
Smith averaged 28.50 in four Tests as opener this summer, having moved up the order to replace the retiring David Warner.
At age 34, the jury is still out on whether the opening role is the right one as Smith approaches the end of his career.
Khawaja averaged 34.38 last summer, and will turn 38 midway through next season’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
Selectors most recently indicated Renshaw would be next in line for the role, but his absence from the list means the race remains wide open.
The lack of a contract for Stoinis comes as a blow for the allrounder.
The 34-year-old was left out of Australia’s one-day squad for the recent series against West Indies, but remains part of the Twenty20 set up.
It is a similar story for Agar, who was not picked at all during the summer after being ruled out of last year’s 50-over World Cup triumph with a calf strain.
Selectors have kept faith in Jhye Richardson, awarded a contract despite injuries denying the quick any international cricket since June 2022.
The new contracts for Short, Hardie and Bartlett come after they were upgraded onto deals last year having played several games in national colours.
“Matt, Aaron and Xavier have been extremely impressive in the early stages of their international careers,” chief selector George Bailey said.
“Their performances and the way they have embraced the international stage has been exciting to watch.
“The panel believes they have strong futures and are deserving of their contracts as they work towards striving to become regulars in the Australian set up.”
CRICKET AUSTRALIA MEN’S CONTRACTED PLAYERS FOR 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, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.