Cricket Australia has announced its list of 20 men’s players to be offered contracts for this year and Jhye Richardson is not one of them.
Richardson played in the second Ashes Test against England where he picked up 5 for 42 in the fourth innings and has taken 11 wickets in three Tests in his career at an average of 22.09.
He also featured in T20 cricket over the summer but Cricket Australia decided not to renew his contract.
According to cricket.com.au chief selector George Bailey cited the need to manage the 25-year-old’s workload after a string of injuries as the reason.
It wasn’t a happy day if your name is Richardson with fellow fast bowler Kane Richardson also failing to secure a contract.
Other contracted players or those upgraded from last year who missed out include Marcus Harris, Moises Henriques, Ben McDermott, Ashton Turner and Matthew Wade.
An agreement between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketer’s Association states that between 17 and 20 male players are eligible to be contracted at the start of each contracting period.
Josh Inglis is new to the list for 2022-23 while Mitch Marsh, Scott Boland, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Swepson have retained their place on the list having earned a CA contract upgrade in 2021-22.
“It has been a terrific 12 months highlighted by the successes of the T20 World Cup, the Ashes and the Pakistan Test series,” Men’s Chair of National Selectors George Bailey said.
“The performances by Mitch Marsh, Usman, Travis, Scott, Marcus and Mitch Swepson were pivotal in helping secure those successes and we are pleased they have retained their contracts for the upcoming year after being rewarded with upgrades throughout the past season.
“We believe this group provide us great coverage and versatility across all formats while others, as we saw in the past year, will continue to get opportunities to play a big part.
“With a tour of Sri Lanka, a home World Cup, home summer and tour of India there is an enormous amount of cricket to be played where the strength of our squads and depth will be challenged.
“To contract just 20 players was challenging given the number of key series and the cycle of upcoming T20 and one-day World Cups, all of which will require varying skill sets and combinations.”
Fast bowler James Pattinson is retired from international cricket while former Test captain Tim Paine remains on an indefinite break from the game.
Players not awarded contracts as part of the initial squad of 20 can earn upgrades throughout the year by accruing 12 upgrade points. Players receive five points for a Test match, two for a One-Day International and one for a T20 International.
Cricket Australia contracted men’s players 2022-23:
Ashton Agar
Scott Boland
Alex Carey
Pat Cummins
Aaron Finch
Cameron Green
Josh Hazlewood
Travis Head
Josh Inglis
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Marsh
Glenn Maxwell
Steve Smith
Mitchell Starc
Marcus Stoinis
Mitchell Swepson
David Warner
Adam Zampa
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
The phrase "an embarrassment of talent" comes to mind. So many good players
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Swepson is our first test leg spinner since McGill. I would have thought Zampa could adapt but they are so committed to Swepson that the selectors would look stupid now not to follow through. I'd be pretty sure Jyhe Richardson will be back soon. He is an exceptionally good bowler. I think as good as Starc, Hazelwood. Boland has followed an overseas trend where these elite accurate fast medium bowlers are proving to be so effective. South Africa and Pakistan have both had similar outstanding bowlers recently and we wouldn't lose out with a Cummins, Richardson, Boland line up of quicks.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
No. I wasn’t saying it was wrong at all that they earn a big salary. What I’m saying is that in earning a big salary, as contracted players, they don’t need to then earn more IF that makes them unavailable to be play for Australia as contracted players. Yes, we’d all probably like to earn as much as we can get, but at some point there must come a responsibility to fulfill your original contract obligations. And if you are well paid in the first place, that shouldn’t be that hard to do.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Jim, I’m more frustrated at Hazelwood’s unavailability given his white ball performances last winter and especially given he only played one Test in Pakistan. The focus on Cummins comes about as a carry over of discussion from an article which was about Cummins, posted at the same time and was being commented on at the same time, as well as Cummins taking on the role of Test captain, which to me makes him the “head” of Australian cricket, even if he is not the actual white ball captain. I feel that carries with it a responsibility to always put Australia first. Overall, I’m not happy with any Australian player - but especially contracted players on excellent remuneration - not being available for Australia but at the same time being in India to play the IPL. It’s taking national representation for Australia down a slippery slope re national sides being the pinnacle of cricket. I get that the players can earn big bucks from the IPL, but it’s not like they aren’t already earning big bucks. We could all make the same argument re maximising our earning potential whilst our active career permits it, but I don’t think that argument really holds water if it means being paid by one employer on a standing contract to play, but then not playing in order to earn money from a secondary employer. But still getting paid from your primary employer. It wouldn’t stand in most every other circumstance. I was less concerned last year re absences from the white ball teams as COVID bubbles were a real issue in terms of players needing a break from them. And indeed the year before. But in those circumstances, the players weren’t then playing elsewhere at the same time.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Hard to see how Swepson, who might or might not play a couple of Tests and that’s it, gets a contract ahead of Richardson, who could play in all three formats.
matth
Roar Guru
The real question is why would Australia schedule anything in competition with the IPL? Of course the answer is that they didn’t. The Pakistan series was beforehand and 7 or 8 players were genuinely rested.
matth
Roar Guru
True (Federer, Nadal, cough cough)
Jim Prideaux
Roar Rookie
Jeff, apologies, I posted a more detailed question but it has vanished into the ether. The main point was why is it now a problem? From 9 months ago: “David Warner, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell, opted out of the upcoming white ball tours… Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams and Marcus Stoinis also requested not to be considered for the tour” I don’t remember people caring much back then. As has also been pointed out, the IPL started after the white ball tour, so he did rest.
Jim Prideaux
Roar Rookie
You didn’t answer my question though. Why is it now a problem? Centrally contracted players skip white ball cricket on a regular basis. Why is Pat Cummins doing what he and others have regularly done now so bad? Why are you now expecting fast bowlers to be available for all games across all formats? As for them being meaningless, as far as I’m concerned they are less important than the test series. Cummins is these captain, spearhead of the test bowling attack, I want him playing tests at 100%. If that means he doesn’t play ODIs and T20is all the time then so be it. From 9 months ago: “David Warner, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell, opted out of the upcoming white ball tours…. Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams and Marcus Stoinis also requested not to be considered for the tour” You certainly don’t spout some of the drivel that others have on here, but for someone who’s post I usually look forward to reading you have seemed to be running a more critical eye over the team and PC recently.
Ace
Roar Rookie
You are overlooking the names I mentioned . Those did not do much apart from one good knock from Marsh who should have had more opportunities before that. And you can't find a dozen good young players in Australia at the moment? Amazing Only in cricket do you next move on to elder care
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Interesting discussion above on this thread about the 20 contract limit. I was unaware of that
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately for Jhye R he has spent a lot of time unavailable because of injury. So, as an injury-prone fast bowler he must be a Test captain prospect.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I’m not *angry* at any one indidual Matt. I am concerned at the trend of players skipping playing for Australia to play IPL. It so happens that Cummins is the Test captain, so arguably the most prestigious role has in Aus cricket, so yes, he attracts more scrutiny than the others.
matth
Roar Guru
It started after the ODI and T20’s in Pakistan so actually yes, they rested
matth
Roar Guru
No one can tell. You’ve been very subtle
matth
Roar Guru
But you were saying how wrong it was that they earn a large salary?
matth
Roar Guru
He is the test captain and didn’t miss any tests. He would have. been rested from those ODI’s regardless of the IPL, after the workload he shouldered to win that test series. Starc was rested too and he never plays IPL. Are you angry at him too?
matth
Roar Guru
Didn’t he just Captain a World Cup winning team?
matth
Roar Guru
Marsh just won us a World Cup. Harris came in as the younger opener and failed again. Maxwell is still easily in our best XI for limited overs. I have nothing for Finch :stoked: You Reference Green and Pucovski like there are a dozen more like that just waiting to be pick. There isn’t.