CA contracted players: Johnson holds on, Cowan missed out
Discarded paceman Mitchell Johnson has been given a lifeline as one of 17 players awarded a Cricket Australia contract.
CA cuts its centrally contracted players from 25 to 17, but with the ability to upgrade others if performance warrants.
While Johnson has not played for Australia in any form of the game since November last year, current Test opener Ed Cowan misses out on a contract.
One-day specialist David Hussey keeps his contract, despite never playing a Test.
But national Twenty20 captain George Bailey also missed out on contracts.
Australia’s selectors said the contracts were awarded on three criteria:
* The form of the players over the past 12 months.
* Their likelihood of being selected for Australia in any form of the game the next 12 months
* The weighting for Tests outweighs one day internationals, which outweighs T20.
National selector John Inverarity said the national selection panel (NSP) had faith in the likes of Cowan and Bailey who could still be awarded a contract.
“Naming just 17 players initially, with the ability to upgrade others, as and when performance warrants, ensures a tighter alignment between current performance, recognition and reward,” Inverarity said in a statement.
“There are a number of very good and highly regarded players who the NSP have considerable faith in – and hopes for – who didn’t, on this occasion, make the cut for the contract list of 17.
“Ed Cowan, George Bailey, Peter Forrest, Clint McKay, Dan Christian and some others come readily to mind.
“The expectation is that a handful of names will be added to the list as the season unfolds and upgrade points are accrued by those players representing Australia in the various formats of the game.”
Under a new pay agreement signed with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, the minimum CA retainer contract is worth $230,000, with performance payments, including $14,000 for test match, $5,600 for an ODI and $4,200 for a T20.
Contracted players: Michael Clarke, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Stark, Matt Wade, Shane Watson, David Warner.
© AAP 2013
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June 22nd 2012 @ 3:22pm
DP said | June 22nd 2012 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
Absolute rubbish. How can one of the current Test openers not be given a central contract ? And yet the selectors say that the weighting for Tests outweighs the weighting for other forms. How can the selectors say that form over the last 12 months is important and then give Mitchell Johnson a central contract ?
June 22nd 2012 @ 3:52pm
Brendon said | June 22nd 2012 @ 3:52pm | Report comment
Because CA is full of crap.
Johnson will never get back into the test team nor should he. Hes a good ODI and T20 player but if contracts are going to be weighted towards tests … as you point out its all double speak from CA.
June 25th 2012 @ 10:01am
Tim said | June 25th 2012 @ 10:01am | Report comment
I absolutely agree that Johnson will not be selected again, and certainly not in the next 12 months. There have been a range of bowlers (Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson, Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Stark) who have been given opportunity in his absence and proven their ability to bowl consistently (something Johnson seemed to struggle with at any ground that wasn’t the WACA).
June 22nd 2012 @ 4:14pm
Patrick Angel said | June 22nd 2012 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
Ed Cowan will join the ranks when he plays three tests, but I still don’t get it either.
June 22nd 2012 @ 10:35pm
Lolly said | June 22nd 2012 @ 10:35pm | Report comment
Maybe if he’d actually scored a few runs by now he might have been more fixed in the selectors’ minds. He has hardly pulled up any trees. I don’t see what the fuss is.
June 22nd 2012 @ 11:52pm
Timmuh said | June 22nd 2012 @ 11:52pm | Report comment
I tend to agree. He looks solid, usually gets a start, but is no certainty to play Tests because he hasn’t posted any large scores. The contracts are weighted in favour of Test players, but all three formats are included in the process and he certainly isn’t in contenton for the limited and clown forms of the game. Had he done a bit more he probably would have a contract.
June 22nd 2012 @ 5:50pm
Dan said | June 22nd 2012 @ 5:50pm | Report comment
Is this the same Mitchell Johnson? I hope the icc have widened the pitches!!
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June 22nd 2012 @ 6:17pm
tonysalerno said | June 22nd 2012 @ 6:17pm | Report comment
Guys, numerically, from 25 to 17 contracts there will be certain headaches, as you cut down the ‘fat’.
I find Mitchell Johnson a bizarre selection, i have got to agree with all of you on that. The only idea i can break it down to is for Johnson to play a mentoring role for the likes of Pattinson and Cummings who are working their way up to the bigger occasions, which Johnson has already achieved.
Australia’s opening pair is still a lottery, i still think it should have been Warner and Watson as soon as Watson returned from Injury after the Australian summer.
David Hussey is the most valuable signing as i think he will make his test debut in the not so distant future; he will become Australian cricket’s most valuable commodity in all forms of the game very soon.
June 22nd 2012 @ 6:21pm
Timmuh said | June 22nd 2012 @ 6:21pm | Report comment
What sort of mentoring role would Johnson play? Giving advice like “That things called a pitch, don’t let the ball land on it”?
June 23rd 2012 @ 1:50pm
tonysalerno said | June 23rd 2012 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
I know it seems like a far-fetched idea given his form at the moment but Johnson was one of Australia’s best bowlers for quite a while. He was instrumental in the 2009 Australian summer against South Africa, he has played ashes which will help players like Cummings etc. who haven’t played one but are on the verge of playing their first.
I think CA do have a plan, i mean i don’t think he will be break into Australia’s best eleven in the near future.
Otherwise you would.t be making such rash decisions if you are cutting eight player contracts.
June 23rd 2012 @ 2:18pm
Timmuh said | June 23rd 2012 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
Our definitions of either “one of Austalia’s best bowlers” or “quite a while” differ somewhat. I would say that for one summer, at most, and quite possibly only the one series in South Africa he was one of Australia’s best bowlers.
His Ashes campaigns, bar one Test in Perth, have been diabolical so I wouldn’t want him as a mentor based on that record – and I really don’t think a contract should be given on the basis of a possible mentoring role in twelve months time.
Apparently he was given a two year deal last time arond, hopefully that is the only reason he has a contract this time around. A legacy contract, rather than a deserved one.
And, with more hope than expectation, hopefully he can come good again. If he ever does, there’s no reason not to play him; but the evidence isn’t very strong that he will do so.
June 23rd 2012 @ 2:52pm
Disco said | June 23rd 2012 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
Don’t forget SA won 3 Tests against Australia that summer. Though admittedly that did coincide with Johnson’s purple patch which belied the fact that his bowling action and batting techniques are flawed.
June 23rd 2012 @ 1:40pm
Rhys said | June 23rd 2012 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
D. Hussey is a fine batsman and is arguably showing some of the best form of his career. If Test places are picked on form (which they should be), then I have no problem with him making his Test debut on that basis.
However, David Hussey will turn 35 next month. At best he is an interim solution for any middle order worries, and in any case who would he replace? Will one of the ageing Ponting or Michael Hussey (37 going on 38) be replaced by somone just 2-3 years younger?
Age shouldn’t be a determining factor over and above form, but it’s a sad indictment on the under 30 batting ranks in Australia if someone makes their Test debut at a time when most batsman are having the words ‘Test retirement’ associated with their name.
June 23rd 2012 @ 1:52pm
tonysalerno said | June 23rd 2012 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Rhys, totally understand where you are coming from; but if he is the best in the country- i don’t see why age should be a factor.
June 22nd 2012 @ 7:57pm
Banger said | June 22nd 2012 @ 7:57pm | Report comment
Very weird list, Cowan should definitely be on there other then one of Stark, Doherty or D. Hussey. Test cricket above all other forms
June 22nd 2012 @ 9:30pm
Steve War said | June 22nd 2012 @ 9:30pm | Report comment
It would be beyond belief that Clarke’s boyfriends get preference over proven performers and those with real potential, except……………
We expect this type of decision from Cricket Australia now
June 22nd 2012 @ 9:32pm
Steve War said | June 22nd 2012 @ 9:32pm | Report comment
I wonder if he ever took Mitch to El Caballo Blanco?
June 23rd 2012 @ 12:17am
Ian Whitchurch said | June 23rd 2012 @ 12:17am | Report comment
If I was running Cricket Australia, I’d keep the amount of money in the bucket constant – and to the agreed percentage – but not die in a ditch over the magic number of 17.
I mean, if Cricket Australia goes over that number, is Cricket New Zealand going to go to the ICC and whinge they have too many players on contract, and they should be deducted competition point for rorting the salary cap ?
June 23rd 2012 @ 7:00am
Robert said | June 23rd 2012 @ 7:00am | Report comment
For all those people bagging Johnson,just remember how long Brett Lee kept getting a healthy contract despite having an inflated record and being injured for a few years.Lee never took more than 5 wickets in a test and for the majority of his career had McGrath and Warne with him to do the major damage.
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June 23rd 2012 @ 2:55pm
Disco said | June 23rd 2012 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
Brett Lee started very, very well, but ultimately as a Test bowler he never really reached the heights his early fast, full, swinging stuff suggested he might and, like Symonds, the 2009 home summer was one too far for him.
June 23rd 2012 @ 9:06am
Dan said | June 23rd 2012 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Robert, Brett Lee has over 300 wickets in both test and one day cricket.
Comparing him to johnson is an almost an insult!
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June 23rd 2012 @ 2:55pm
Disco said | June 23rd 2012 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
A reflection on Johnson’s mediocrity rather than Lee’s decent career.
June 23rd 2012 @ 9:28am
Robert said | June 23rd 2012 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Lee rarely took top order wickets.thats an insult to Australian cricket Dan
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