Sam Konstas Axed From Cricket Australia’s Contract List For Busy 2026-27 Season

Australia’s Ashes-winning players person been rewarded pinch contracts for a bumper 2026-27 cricket season, but location was nary room connected nan 21-man database for Sam Konstas and Glenn Maxwell.

Paceman Brendan Doggett, who made his afloat world debut against England successful November’s opening Ashes Test successful Perth, earned his first nationalist contract, while opener Jake Wetherald, who played each 5 Tests past summer, retained his upgraded statement contempt averaging conscionable 22.33 during nan series.

Bowler Michael Neser and spinner Todd Murphy were again handed afloat contracts, up of a crammed Test schedule complete nan adjacent 12 months, which starts pinch a two-match location bid against Bangladesh successful August.

That is followed by ODI tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa, wherever Australia will besides play a three-Test series, earlier a location white-ball bid against England and a tally of 10 Test matches successful 14 weeks, against New Zealand, India and nan 150th Anniversary Test against England astatine nan MCG.

Konstas, who burst connected to nan world segment pinch a memorable debut against India connected Boxing Day successful 2024, mislaid his spot connected nan roster aft failing to capitalise connected his committedness since that unorthodox sound of 60 astatine nan MCG.

The New South Wales batter managed to adhd conscionable 103 runs crossed 9 further Test innings for an mean of 16.30, and paid nan value for his mediocre shape pinch removal from Wednesday’s list.

He was 1 of 5 players to suffer their contracts, on pinch Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson and Matt Short, while Usman Khawaja was absent aft his retirement.

The chair of men’s nationalist selectors, George Bailey, said nan database strove “to equilibrium reward for performances complete clip pinch a lens to nan upcoming schedule”.

“The adjacent 12 months encompasses a engaged Test schedule crossed a scope of conditions and challenges – South Africa, India and England arsenic good arsenic nan Top End and location Tests crossed nan summer,” Bailey said.

“This is reflected successful nan statement database done a predominance of Test and multi-format players for this cycle. Given nan upcoming schedule of bid we cognize we will proceed to request and utilise players extracurricular of those contracted.

“This year, possibly much than ever, it is basal we proceed moving intimately pinch and collaborate pinch states to guarantee players are processing and fresh for International cricket erstwhile they get opportunities.”