Australia has announced its central contracts list for the 2026–27 season. The list includes several new players and some surprising omissions.
The selection shows that Cricket Australia is focusing on strengthening the Test squad and building depth for upcoming international tours. A few young players have received their first central contracts, while some experienced names are no longer part of the list.
New Test Players Receive Central Contracts
Some of the biggest talking points from the new contracts list are the inclusion of Test players who recently impressed selectors.
Jake Weatherald has been retained on the central contracts list. Although his Ashes campaign was modest, the selectors still see him as a potential long-term Test opener.
During the Ashes series, Weatherald scored 201 runs at an average of 22.33 and contributed to a few key opening partnerships.
Chair of selectors George Bailey said that a contract should not be seen as a guarantee of selection but rather as a sign of the opportunities ahead.
Two fast bowlers, Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett, have also been rewarded with full-time deals after their involvement in the Ashes series.
In the spin department, Todd Murphy has returned to the contract list. He joins experienced spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann as Australia prepares for future overseas tours, including a major series in India.
Senior Players Left Out of the Contract List
The 2026–27 contract list also includes some notable absences.
Veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has not been given a central contract this year. Maxwell currently focuses mainly on T20 cricket, and Australia has only five T20I matches scheduled this season.
Tim David and Marcus Stoinis are also not part of the new contract group.
Fast bowler Jhye Richardson, who previously held a central contract but struggled with injuries, has also been left out. Selectors are expected to monitor his performances outside the contracted group.
Young batter Sam Konstas also missed out despite scoring 660 runs at an average of 33.00 in the Sheffield Shield last season. Although he impressed in the India Test series, he did not convert enough starts into big scores.
Usman Khawaja has retired from international cricket, while Lance Morris and Matt Short are also not included in the contracts this year.
Winners and Losers from Australia’s 2026–27 Contracts
The new contract list highlights players who gained new deals, those who kept their contracts, and those who missed out.
New Contracts
| Players |
|---|
| Xavier Bartlett |
| Brendan Doggett |
| Nathan Ellis |
| Matthew Kuhnemann |
| Todd Murphy |
| Michael Neser |
| Jake Weatherald |
| Beau Webster |
Retained Players
| Players |
|---|
| Scott Boland |
| Alex Carey |
| Pat Cummins |
| Cameron Green |
| Josh Hazlewood |
| Travis Head |
| Josh Inglis |
| Marnus Labuschagne |
| Nathan Lyon |
| Mitchell Marsh |
| Steve Smith |
| Mitchell Starc |
| Adam Zampa |
Players Not Retained
| Players |
|---|
| Usman Khawaja (retired) |
| Sam Konstas |
| Glenn Maxwell |
| Lance Morris |
| Jhye Richardson |
| Matt Short |
Australia’s Busy International Schedule
Australia has a packed international calendar ahead in the 2026–27 season.
The team will play several Test series and limited-overs matches across different conditions.
Major Upcoming Series
| Series | Format |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh vs Australia | Test series |
| South Africa vs Australia | Test series |
| New Zealand vs Australia | Test series |
| India vs Australia | Test series |
| England vs Australia | Test series |
| Zimbabwe vs Australia | ODI series |
| South Africa vs Australia | ODI series |
| England vs Australia | T20I series |
These matches will help Australia prepare for future tournaments and maintain their strength across all formats.
The latest contract list shows that Cricket Australia is focusing on building a strong multi-format squad.
The inclusion of emerging players and Test specialists highlights the plan to strengthen the team for long international tours. At the same time, the absence of some senior names reflects a shift toward managing workload and planning for the future.
The 2026–27 season will give several new players a chance to establish themselves in the Australian national team.
