Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson aren’t on Cricket Australia’s 2019-20 contract list despite both scoring centuries in Australia’s last Test.
The news is far better for James Pattinson. Despite struggling with injury over the last few years, the big quick played a starring role for Victoria in their Sheffield Shield campaign and is firming as an Ashes squad contender.
Included in Australia’s A squad to tour England today, Pattinson is just one of six changes to the Australian contract list, which didn’t include either Patterson or Burns, nor prolific Tasmanian keeper-batsman Matthew Wade.
Patterson was one of the finds of the summer, scoring 144 runs across two Tests in his debut series against Sri Lanka. Burns was also phenomenal at the back end of the summer after being overlooked to play India, but hasn’t received a contract. With Marcus Harris earning a CA contract for the first time, Burns is shaping up to be dropped from the Test side, and not for the first time in his career.
That said, selector Trevor Hohns said Burns was on the Ashes selection radar. Neither he or Patterson were on the contract list when they made the Test side last summer.
The six players to have been cut from the contract list are Ashton Agar, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Marsh, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake and Andrew Tye.
It’s been a dramatic fall for Marsh, who was only named Test vice-captain ahead of Australia’s 1-0 loss to Pakistan in the UAE last year. Renshaw, on the other hand, didn’t play a game for Australia in any format in 2018.
Unsurprisingly, David Warner and Steve Smith, who were both left out last year due to their suspensions after the ball tampering debacle, are back on the contract list.
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Adam Zampa, who was left out last year but has been named in Australia’s World Cup squad after a strong 12 months in the ODI set-up has been included as well.
Nathan Coulter-Nile is the other new face on the list and has also been included in the World Cup squad.
2019-20 Australian contract list
Patrick Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Alex Carey, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
In: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Marcus Harris, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Out: Ashton Agar, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Andrew Tye
Paul
Roar Guru
You summed up Pattinson really well Bob. If he was just fast, guys would play him fairly comfortably, but when he moves it around at pace, he's lethal.
Paul
Roar Guru
What helps Bumrah in a huge way is his action, which takes some getting used to. I'm not saying he's not skillful, but Cummins can't be far behind if he's rated the best Test quick. I really want Richardson to be fit for the Cup. I reckon he could have a terrific time in English conditions. Starc, at the top of his game as he was in 2015, is nigh unplayable. Mind you Bumrah was pretty much the same in Australia recently.
George
Guest
Bumrah is far more skilful than those - especially Starc.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Should never have been there in the first place. Wait til he has a first class average closer to 40 than 30. It’s an extremely good predictor of possible success.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
How can they give a contract to Handscomb, who’s been dropped from the Test and one-day sides, and not to Burns who should be a lock for the Test team, having a Test average over 40, with 4 centuries in 16 matches? And they have picked Handscomb in the Australia A red ball squad - does this seriously mean they are looking at him for the Tests again. How idiotic are they?
Paul
Roar Guru
The last series England played last year, Bumrah took 21 wickets at 17. He's certainly quick but can also do a bit with the ball as can Cummins, Richardson, Pattinson and Starc. Sure Siddle's a good option when conditions suit, but I'd still go with guys who are a yard or two quicker but can still get some movement. You're right, one of the guys you mentioned needs to be included in the squad, but if the others bowl as they're capable of doing against the current English lineup, I can't see a Siddle type bowler being needed.
Rob
Guest
But maintaining their obsession with Shaun Marsh. Wasn’t he dropped from the Test team for repeated poor performances when given the best opportunity to stand up?
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
While I agree broadly with what you say I'd like to say that Pattinson moves it around in the air and off the deck though. He's not just about raw pace. I'd put him down as a genuine seamer who just happens to be pretty damn quick.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
Maybe he refused to scratch the ball?
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am personally betting he will get shafted by the selectors. Maybe those rumours of him and Warner not getting on are true.
matth
Roar Guru
Bit busy on the rugby league tab at the moment. Joe may have to fend for himself
Greg Douglas
Guest
yet again Burns gets dogged. There's a provision to add people to the contracted list at a later date. I feel both smith and warner shouldn't have got contracts and be made to work for them .... then added later.
AREH
Roar Guru
I am fearing the same. They simply have to take minimum one of the Siddle/Copeland/Sayers/Bird/Worrall types. The sheer pace thing has just never worked as has been mentioned. You only have to look as far as the last UK trip in 2015 – the Starc/Johnson/Hazlewood combination was very dangerous on its day, but couldn’t win them the series. Enter Siddle for a single test at The Oval where he dominates. The English make a similar mistake too often when coming to Aus – you DO need raw pace and variety, and they bring 2-3 quicks who bowl right-arm over the wicket at no more than 140km/h
U
Roar Rookie
They’ve yet to learn their lesson. The likes of Siddle, Copeland, and Mennie need to be considered. Pace doesn’t work there. Brett Lee was never successful there. Nor were the Mitches I’d go with Cummins, Pattinson(if healthy) and other of the slower more accurate guys
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Are we going to see a sequel penned in the coming months?
Matt P
Roar Rookie
If Sri Lanka are only a 3rd rate attack, what does that make South Africa? A 4th rate batting lineup? Also remind me, how did Harris perform against that same 3rd rate attack again? Don't seem to recall him doing too well there.
U
Roar Rookie
Harris also averages less than 40 in first class cricket and hasn’t got a century yet in tests. Has a habit of not going on with it a lot of the time.
Jackson
Guest
Im so disappointed for burns... In my opinion he should be a lock for ashes spot. Marcus Harris is a future star but clearly burns has proved more thus far.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Billy Stanlake made huge strides this season. He actually played I thin 3 games and bowled well at times. I couldn't see them picking him for more games. One or tow games a year for our fast bowlers now.
George
Guest
The approach to yet again be blast 'em out with raw pace?