The probable direction for Australian cricket for the next year appears to have been set by the announcement of the new Cricket Australia contract list, with a couple of stand-out winners and some notable losers.
The list is heavy on current one-day specialists, highlighting not only the emphasis on what will be an important 12 months leading up to the World Cup, but also on the dearth of immediately obvious candidates to take up positions in the Test team over the same period.
Neither Jackson Bird nor Chadd Sayers – the number one support acts behind Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins this past summer in the Test squad – have been offered a contract, which suggests that the selectors have decided they are not the answer should injury knock down one of the ‘Big Three’.
It’s a huge comedown for both.
Bird has been the faithful 12th man for most of the past two years, only gaining a match on the stark and desolate road at the MCG in December, while Sayers finally got his chance in the baggy green in the final Test in South Africa, but now looks as though he will join fellow Redbacks Joe Mennie and Callum Ferguson as ‘one-Test wonders’.
GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images
The other major casualty of the new list is the casting aside of Adam Zampa, leaving his World Cup chances in great danger.
The spinner has been in and out of the ODI team and while his results haven’t been startling, he has shown good aptitude in difficult circumstances.
It would appear that the selectors are siding towards the big-hitting Ashton Agar and part-time spin options like Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell for their World Cup team, which squeezes Zampa out.
Coming in to considerations are the fast-bowling Richardson pair of Jhye and Kane, and the economical trickery of Andrew Tye. All three will be looking to book places in the squad behind the ‘Big Three’, with Tye probably the favourite at the moment. Having toured South Africa as a back-up paceman, Jhye may already be considered as the next in line for a Test place as well, given the fate of both Bird and Sayers.
There was also recognition for Marcus Stoinis, who will be a major factor of that ODI squad and in some people’s eyes will also be looked at for the Test team.
Marcus Stoinis. (AAP Image/SNPA, Ross Setford)
Tim Paine and Alex Carey are the nominated wicketkeepers at the expense of Matthew Wade, and Paine will no doubt have received a hefty increase given his rise in stature following the departure of Steve Smith and David Warner. Whether he captains the ODI team as well as the Test team, or that duty is given to Aaron Finch, is yet to be seen. Also, given Carey’s excellent debut in the Twenty20 team in February, he may well retain that role in the future as well.
Shaun Marsh returns to the contract list, which not only suggests he is still well and truly in the Test match frame, but may also make a surprise return to the ODI team as Finch’s opening partner in place of Warner. Marsh has good statistics as an opener in 50-over cricket, and retaining the left-right combination at the top of the order would be a bonus.
The glaring deficiency in the contract list is for the next line of Test batsmen. The selectors have about as much idea as to whom will be in the team as every armchair selector in the country, which is a signal to every batsman in Australia that big, early runs in the Sheffield Shield – like Cameron Bancroft scored last season – could be the springboard to a Test cap.
Those not on the contract list are not finished – all can be added at a later date should their form and selection warrant it.
But it is an interesting initial look at what the selectors are thinking for a side sans-Smith, Warner and Bancroft.
paul j
Guest
Why do they get contracts before actual selection? I don't know what these contracts entail. I just hope no money changes hands or does it just mean these players are on the radar for selection and do they set performance totals that have to be met
Tycoch
Guest
What a stupid comment - when did Australia last win a series in England
reece
Guest
Mate we haven't won an Ashes series in England since 2001. I'd say it's very high on the to do list.
Paul
Roar Guru
Fair call, but I would have been more disappointed if I were Sayers or Bird if I missed out on contracts in previous years. They really weren't up to the standards they set over previous seasons
JamesH
Roar Guru
Hard for Tremain to get a contract when Bird and Sayers don't! Kane Richardson is a surprise because I can't see him playing anything other than T20. As for Carey, who else is going to get a gig behind Paine? Wade has been tried, Gotch and Peirson are even less accomplished than Carey, while Whiteman has been out for an extended period with injury. If anything Happens to Paine they will either call on Wade or Carey, and Wade would probably only be considered for tests. Besides, Carey averaged 35 with the bat in the Shield this season, with a high score of 139, and was the second best batsman in the BBL (behind Short). Hardly a bad season.
George
Guest
Tremain is streets ahead of J Richardson. It's a joke.
Bill Peters
Roar Guru
I agree with most of what you say Paul, and I don't have strong feelings one way or the other. I think that if I was Jackson Bird or Chadd Sayers though I would feel a little let down given the lack of opportunities they have been given in the last 12 months, and are then left off the contract list, while for instance both Richardson's haven't done a lot (if any) more at State level but are now contracted. It can only mean the selectors think they have more chance of being in the mix in the next 12 months than Bird or Sayers, otherwise why give them a contract? Again, they're all good discussion points for the cricketing public. It will be interesting to see the squad chosen for the ODI tour of England. That should be a reasonable pointer.
Bill Peters
Roar Guru
Hi Bob. I'm guessing the selectors have Matt Renshaw as a long-term proposition which is why he has a contract, but that they are unsure as to whether Burns is a short-term or long-term solution, meaning he isn't on the list. I think the list for this 12 months is heavily focused on the World Cup team development, and most of these guys are the ones in the frame for that. That's all conjecture though. :)
Bill Peters
Roar Guru
I agree that Chris Tremain is very unlucky not to have been considered. Each time I've watched him play at the ground he has been the most dangerous bowler on show.
Bill Peters
Roar Guru
Yes, poorly worded sorry. I mean to reflect he has been 12th man throughout India and Bangladesh over that time when he was passed over for Cummins and then O'Keefe who were not on tour at the time but flown in, but had played only the one Test in the past 12 months, and that on a dud pitch.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Chad Sayers also played in that test and did not get a contract!
Paul
Roar Guru
Bill I think the whole contracts business is all about messaging but it's probably not a good idea to get too involved in the thinking behind decisions so far ahead of the next season. In broad strokes, there are hardly any batsmen with a contract compared to previous seasons. This is obviously a CA message saying batting positions are up for grabs in all forms of the game, so stack up the runs, a la Shaun Marsh and you'll get a contract. Likewise with the bowling. The guys who missed out aren't currently meeting CAs needs for blokes who can bowl in different formats, are match winners (Lyons) or who show potential to star in different formats. Sayers, Bird, etc can still get a run in Tests or what ever, but they've not performed to their previous high standards. The equations pretty simple, take swags of wickets or make a lot of runs consistently and you'll get a contract.
Bob Sims
Guest
Interesting article, Bill. Unless I misread the contracted players list, I didn't see Joe Burns' name anywhere. Seems strange that the selectors turned to him for the fourth Test in SA and now he doesn't get a run.
BurgyGreen
Guest
This is a really nicely-written and perceptive article, Bill. Stoinis is a big chance to debut for our next Test. With Mitch injured, they'll persist with the narrative that they need a seam-bowling all-rounder (despite Mitch barely bowling since his recall) and use that to keep Maxwell out of the XI. It seems ridiculous considering Stoinis has averaged 17 in his last two Shield campaigns, but the selectors have a long history of (a) picking Test players on white ball form, (b) shafting Maxwell, and (c) shifting the goalposts on whether they want a batsman or an all-rounder at 6.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Beating England in England is still a pretty big deal. They aren't exactly pushovers on their home turf with the Dukes ball. The series at home against India is a danger one for us though. They have every reason to believe this will be their best chance yet to win a test series in Australia.
Mike Dugg
Guest
I'm surprised that Carey that is so highly regarded by the selectors. His first class numbers are very poor and limited overs form isn't really special either. Certainly not leaps and bounds ahead of the other young keepers round the country The Richardsons are a surprise inclusion as well. Kane is average at best and Jhye has barely any top level cricket experience at all. Chris Tremain should be ahead of him Good to see Zampa dropped. Been quite disappointing last year or so.
i miss the force
Guest
why are we aiming at the ashes when England are such a bad team? maybe we should be aiming to beat India and SA instead of kidding ourselves that beating England is the epitome
qwetzen
Guest
"Bird has been the faithful 12th man for most of the past two years, only gaining a match on the stark and desolate road at the MCG in December..." Unsure if I'm reading the above correctly but Bird played Tests at Adel & Briz in the last two years.