Konstas axed as Cricket Australia unveil contract list

Young opening batsman Sam Konstas and veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell were axed Wednesday arsenic Cricket Australia announced a database of 21 nationally contracted players for the 2026-27 season.

Australia, who will play 20 Tests successful a 12-month play from August, person opted to spell with opener Jake Weatherald, 31, alternatively of the out-of-form 20-year-old Konstas.

With Australia facing such a Test-heavy schedule, white-ball specialists Maxwell and Matt Short were besides dropped from past year’s database on with retired opener Usman Khawaja and injured accelerated bowler Lance Morris.

A surprise was the omission of accelerated bowler Jhye Richardson, who played his archetypal Test successful 4 years successful the Boxing Day Ashes clash.

The 29-year-old had been touted arsenic 1 of the earthy successors to Australia’s ageing gait stalwarts Mitchell Starc (36), Josh Hazlewood (35) and Scott Boland (36).

Cricket Australia alternatively opted to reward chap Ashes-winning speedy bowlers Brendan Doggett, who is 31, and the 36-year-old Michael Neser.

“The adjacent 12 months encompasses a engaged Test docket crossed a scope of conditions and challenges,” said seat of men’s selectors George Bailey.

“This is reflected successful the declaration database done a predominance of Test and multi-format players for this cycle.”

Australia start their 2026-27 play with a two-match location bid against Bangladesh successful August.

They will travel for three ODIs successful Zimbabwe, positive three ODIs and three Tests successful South Africa during September and October.

Australia instrumentality location for a white-ball bid against England followed by 10 Tests successful 14 weeks, starting with 4 astatine location to New Zealand successful December and January.

A five-Test tour of India begins connected January 21 and the play will extremity with the 150th day Test against England astatine the Melbourne Cricket Ground successful March, 2027.

Cricket Australia contracted men’s players 2026-27:

Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa

Source: AFP