A Tassie dasher yet to set the Test world on fire has been backed to deliver over a rising star once identified as Australia’s next great opener in a season of massive significance, while a western speedster is among those to lose their national contracts.
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After securing the Ashes, the nation’s selectors have identified the critical cohort they believe are capable of ensuring Australia excel in several marquee tours with a view to securing a spot in next June’s World Test Championship finale in London.
And it is clear they are backing in those who have made Australia the top-ranked Test nation in the world to deliver again throughout 2026-27 over some of the nation’s most promising cricketers.
Although Jake Weatherald managed only one half-century in the Ashes, the manner with which he combined with Travis Head saw him retain an upgraded national contract, with young New South Welshman Sam Konstas falling from favour.
Meanwhile, the strong performances of veteran fast bowler Michael Neser and South Australian Brendan Doggett, who has been granted his first national contract, in the Ashes have been preferred over contenders who excelled domestically.
Jhye Richardson returned from injury to play the Boxing Day Test, but the injury-plagued fast bowler has found himself without a contract along with another stricken Sandgroper in Lance Morris in the 21-man contract list, while white ball specialist Matt Short has also been demoted after being dropped for the T20 World Cup.
Over the next 16 months Australia will host Bangladesh in the Top End, travel to South Africa for the first tour since the infamous “sandpaper-gate”, host New Zealand over the summer, head to India for five Tests and then host England in the 150th Anniversary Test at the MCG in mid-March.
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All going well, a spot in the WTC decider will follow heading into the 2027 Ashes, with the Aussies also featuring in white ball series in South Africa before hosting England in November with a view to next year’s ODI World Cup defence.
Australia’s chairman of national selectors George Bailey believes those contracted will offer the depth to navigate a massive summer of cricket to come.
“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 said.
“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.”
Fox Cricket canvasses some of the winners and losers from the decision by the Australian selection panel.
WINNERS
Cameron Green
The Western Australian all-rounder was never in any real danger to lose his contract, given the high esteem he is held in by Cricket Australia.
But the reality is the 26-year-old has endured a difficult 12-months capped off by an uncharacteristic clash with a reporter earlier this month.
Green batted in every position from No.5 to No.8 in Australia’s middle order during the Ashes and struggled to find the right answer – scoring 171 runs at 24.42 across the five Tests.
He then followed it up with a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign – scoring 24 runs at 8 – as Australia failed to advance from the group stages following losses to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
He has fared little better with ball in hand, averaging 70.75 over the past year.
Yes Australia still sees Green as the future of the side in all formats.
But the clock is starting to tick.
Michael Neser
The big Queenslander thought his career was over when a hamstring injury flared at an inopportune time in 2024, but after a series of injuries to Australia’s premier pacemen last summer, he seized his chance with superb form in the Ashes.
Neser, who turned 36 on the weekend, received the best birthday present possible by regaining a full national contract, with Bailey and Australian coach Andrew McDonald clearly believing his experience will be required during the extensive summer of Test cricket.
He has taken 22 wickets in five Tests for Australia to date, but given the workload facing the nation’s fast bowlers, it is likely he will get far more chances to deliver for his country throughout 2026 and 2027.
Brendan Doggett
The South Australian is currently recovering from a hamstring injury and missed his state’s successful defence of the Sheffield Shield earlier this week at the Junction Oval, but winning his first full contract is a handy consolation prize.
After being on the fringe of selection at different stages in recent years, the 31-year-old debuted in the Ashes and took seven wickets in two Test outings, impressing with his willingness to put the team first.
Doggett is renowned for his line, length and consistency, which made him a destructive force in domestic ranks, but the Aussies called on him to bowl a shorter length at times against England and to serve as a workforce.
When backing the depth in our domestic ranks on Tuesday, McDonald cited the ability of Neser and Doggett to perform as a prime example of what national selectors are looking for.
“I think the Shield season has been so competitive … and sometimes we don’t appreciate how good the talent is there, and that underpins our Australian team,” he said on SEN.
“I hope people have seen that through this summer, when we were stretched in an Ashes, there was opportunities for players to stand up from Shield cricket. (There were) some great stories with Doggett and obviously Michael Neser, who have been two of those … so Shield cricket does underpin a lot of our success.”
Jake Weatherald
It has been a big couple of days for the Tasmanian opener, who is heading to England to replace former Australian batter Peter Handscomb at Leicestershire and has now been confirmed as the nation’s first choice opener for next summer.
Barring anything untoward happening, the 31-year-old will get the chance to play in his home town of Darwin against Bangladesh, which will hopefully provide the platform for him to cement his spot ahead of the big series to come.
The 31-year-old scored only one half-century during the Ashes, that a 72 in the first innings at the Gabba, but selectors loved the way he partnered with Travis Head once he was promoted to the top of the order in the second dig in Perth.
England identified a flaw which saw Weatherald falling over a lot as a summer in which he scored 201 runs at an average of 22.33 progressed, but the hardworking opener has an extended period to rectify the issue.
Todd Murphy
Called into the Australian squad to replace the injured Nathan Lyon last summer, the Victorian spinner looked sick when he walked from the middle of the MCG on Christmas Day after assessing a pitch too lively for the Boxing Day Test to last long.
The 25-year-old missed selection in both the Melbourne and Sydney Tests given the pitch conditions but it was clear that, after losing his national contract last year, he remained firmly in the thinking of Australian selectors with a view to the future.
The Victorian was deadly on a spinning pitch in the final Sheffield Shield match of the season, though less effective in the final when snaring two second innings wickets against the South Aussies, but regaining his national contract is a good consolation.
LOSERS
Sam Konstas
A teenage sensation who ruffled the feathers of Indian superstars Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli in the Boxing Day Test of 2024, Konstas has fallen from favour and lost his contract as a result in a concern from the New South Welshman.
The 20-year-old was given the chance to secure his spot during a tour of the West Indies midway through last year but struggled in conditions that, admittedly, tested most batters and was overlooked for the entirety of the summer.
He has averaged 16.3 in his five Tests to date, which includes his breathtaking 60 on Boxing Day, and while he produced some stars in the Sheffield Shield this season, an output of 660 runs at an average of 33 was not enough to retain his contract.
But Fox Cricket expert pundit Mark Waugh believes Konstas is still capable of excelling wearing the Baggy Green and hopes he flourishes under new Blues coach Brad Haddin.
“If Brad can get him back on the straight and narrow, he is going to be a handy player for New South Wales and Australia,” Waugh told foxsports.com.au recently.
“He did not have a bad Shield season. He got a lot of starts, he was pretty consistent, and he was about the third or fourth leading run scorer in Shield cricket, so there is a challenge for ‘Hadds’ to sort him out and get him back to his best.”
Matt Renshaw
The Queenslander’s head must be spinning as he ponders where he sits in Australian cricket. At the moment, that is not in the 21 players deemed worth of a national contract by selectors, despite shaping as a multi-format prospect.
Now 30, Renshaw averaged a touch under 50 in six Sheffield Shield matches last season and has played 14 Tests for Australia at an average of just below 30, with his most recent appearance coming against India in 2023.
He also performed well for Australia when called into the ODI team last October, which included an innings-high 56 against India at the SCG, but was used in perplexing fashion in the T20 World Cup last month despite topscoring against Zimbabwe.
Corey Rocchichioli
The Western Australian lost out in a battle with Todd Murphy for the leading understudy role to veteran Nathan Lyon when he was injured during the Ashes and has also missed out on a contract, with the younger Victorian preferred this year.
The 28-year-old has been a force in domestic ranks in recent years and claimed 38 wickets at an average of 28 in the most recent season, which places him among the leading bowlers in the country.
But he will have to wait his turn and hope to force his way into national considerations with another strong season in 2026-27.
Jhye Richardson
When Jhye Richardson returned to the Australian fold midway through the summer, it was seen as a reward for both his diligence and also resilience after battling with significant shoulder issues.
The 29-year-old, who has played for Australia in all three formats, snared two wickets in the 13 innings he bowled in the rapid fire Boxing Day Test but was overshadowed by Michael Neser and overlooked for the final Test of the summer at the SCG.
Now he has lost his national contract, with selectors clearly concerned about a shoulder problem that precludes him from throwing properly, despite fronting at a Cricket Australia launch in Perth just over a week ago.
After returning to Shield cricket following the BBL season, he snared eight wickets in three matches, with his best figures 4-54 against Tasmania in a match at the WACA in early February.
Fergus O’Neill
Fergus O’Neill was a bolter for a contract but his deeds in recent years must have him on the radar of national selectors.
The Victorian is yet to debut for Australia but his form in domestic ranks suggests he is clearly capable of performing a role if called on next summer, with the 25-year-old a prolific wicket taker who is also more than handy with the bat.
Ovwer 44 first class matches he has taken 174 wickets at 19.89. With the bat he averages 24.03 with four half centuries to his name.
It will be fascinating to see whether the medium-pacer, who secured five wickets and made an unbeaten 64 in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield final loss to South Australia, will be given the chance to flourish for Australia in the coming year.
Seen by many as ideally suited to English conditions, questions will be raised over his chances of being on the plane when Australia heads into enemy territory to retain the urn in 2027.
FULL CONTRACT LIST
Xavier Bartlett (QLD)
Scott Boland (VIC)
Alex Carey (SA)
Pat Cummins (NSW)
Brendan Doggett (SA)
Nathan Ellis (TAS)
Cameron Green (WA)
Josh Hazlewood (NSW)
Travis Head (SA)
Josh Inglis (WA)
Matt Kuhnemann (TAS)
Marnus Labuschagne (QLD)
Nathan Lyon (NSW)
Mitch Marsh (WA)
Todd Murphy (VIC)
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