SPORTS
Australia's New Central Contracts for 2025 Announced: Three Players Dropped, Three New Additions
Australia's cricket board has officially announced the new list of central contracts for 2025, which includes 23 players, with some notable changes. A few players have been added for the first time, while others have been dropped.
New Faces in the Central Contract List
Three players have earned their place in the central contract list for the first time:
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Sam Constas – A part of Australia's Test team, he impressed with his performance during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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Matt Kunheman – Kunheman’s inclusion comes after a solid showing during Australia's recent tour of Sri Lanka.
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Beau Webster – Another newcomer who earned his spot based on his performances.
Dropped Players
The following players have been left out of the new central contract:
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Todd Murphy – A third spinner during Australia's last tour of Sri Lanka, but with no major tours in Asia for the 2025-26 season, Murphy missed out.
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Shaun Abbott – Part of the Champions Trophy squad, though he didn't play a match, Abbott has not been offered a contract.
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Aaron Hardy – Also part of the Champions Trophy squad but without any match participation, Hardy has been dropped.
Other Players Retaining Their Contracts
Despite ongoing injury concerns, players like Lance Morris and Jhae Richardson have managed to retain their contracts. Richardson is currently recovering from a shoulder surgery, but his place remains secure, alongside Xavier Bartlett, who did not make the Champions Trophy squad but kept his central contract.
Australia’s Future Plans
Australia's 2025-26 season looks busy with 19 T20 matches, 9 ODIs, and 7 Test matches. This will provide ample opportunity for players to showcase their skills, potentially upgrading their contracts based on performances.
List of Players with Central Contracts:
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Scott Boland, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, and others.
These updates reflect the ongoing evolution of Australia's cricket team as they prepare for an action-packed upcoming season, including the T20 World Cup and numerous bilateral series.
