Jake Weatherald will, barring an unexpected twist, open for Australia again next summer after being awarded a full central contract for 2026-27. Fast bowler Jhye Richardson, though, has slipped off the list, a surprise given the tight run of Tests coming up and the need for fit quicks.
Michael Neser’s Ashes effort has been recognised, while Brendan Doggett joins him on the 21-player list. Off-spinner Todd Murphy – back in the squad when Nathan Lyon went down but unused at Melbourne and, more controversially, Sydney – also returns, handy with a five-Test tour of India looming early next year.
Busy is an understatement for the next 12 months: Bangladesh at home, South Africa away, New Zealand at home, India away, the 150th-anniversary Test v England, maybe a World Test Championship final and then the opening shots of the 2027 Ashes. No wonder the selectors went heavy on red-ball specialists.
Weatherald ended the Ashes with 201 runs at 22.33. Not eye-catching, yet the fledgling partnership with Travis Head produced four fifty stands and the coaches liked the shape of it. A stint with Leicestershire should keep him ticking over, even if he is still looking for that first century of the year.
Out go Richardson and five others: retired opener Usman Khawaja, young batter Sam Konstas, quick Lance Morris, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and white-ball dasher Matt Short.
“The contract list strives to balance reward for performances over time with a lens to the upcoming schedule,” national selector George Bailey said. “The next 12 months encompasses a busy Test schedule across a range of conditions and challenges – South Africa, India and England as well as the Top End and home Tests across the summer.” He added: “This is reflected in the contract list through a predominance of Test and multi-format players for this cycle. Given the upcoming schedule of series we know we will continue to need and utilise players outside of those contracted… This year, perhaps more than ever, it is essential we continue working closely with and collaborate with states to ensure players are developing and ready for International cricket when they get opportunities.”
Only 21 of the 24 available contracts have been handed out (it was 23 a year ago). That smaller pool means a little extra cash for the top names – useful when overseas leagues keep flashing cheques.
Richardson’s omission is the talking point. He fought back from major shoulder surgery, earned a Boxing Day Test recall at the MCG, bowled tidily, and now finds himself on the outer again. Cutting someone with that new-ball skill feels risky, yet a contract snub does not rule him out of later selection.
Morris, his Western Australia team-mate, loses his deal after spending most of the last year rehabbing another stress fracture in the back. Australia rate his raw pace highly, but until the body holds up it is hard to commit.
Small note on upgrades: any uncontracted player who reaches the match threshold across formats is automatically bumped into the pay pool, so the door stays ajar.
In short, it is Weatherald’s gain, Richardson’s pain and a reminder that Australia’s selectors are thinking first, second and third about five-day cricket over the next year. The calendar almost demands it.
