Trio rewarded as Australia announce new names in national contract list

Young batter Sam Konstas, spinner Matthew Kuhnemann and all-rounder Beau Webster are the big winners as Cricket Australia announced their list of 23 men’s players to be offered national contracts for 2025-26.

The trio are all included on an updated list of 23 players with national contracts, with all-rounder Aaron Hardie, pacer Sean Abbott and spinner Todd Murphy the three players to lose their deals for the coming 12 months.

There is also no place for young duo Cooper Connolly or Jake Fraser-McGurk ahead of next year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Konstas won his national contract on the back of an impressive debut series against India during the battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while Kuhnemann is rewarded following an outstanding effort in Australia's series triumph over Sri Lanka on the sub-continent.

Webster displayed his all-round talents with an excellent contribution with both bat and ball on Test debut against India in Sydney and backed that up during two further Test appearances in Sri Lanka.

Selection Chair George Bailey believes the trio all deserves their contracts and is now looking forward to some strong competition for spots ahead of Australia's appearance in this year's ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's in June, an away Test series in the West Indies from July and the eagerly awaited visit of England for the Ashes on home soil later this year.

“Matt was outstanding once again in Sri Lanka and we believe he can play a key role across the next 18 months," Bailey said.

“In Beau’s case he proved more than comfortable at Test level with bat and ball, adds an additional dimension in the field and to the balance of the side.

“With Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh returning there will be welcome and healthy competition for places for the World Test Championship and West Indies tours.

“In Sam we see promising upside in a young player who will continue to develop at first class level and in the international environment.”

Cricket Australia men's contract list 2025-26: Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa