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Chief selector George Bailey stopped short of saying David Warner appearing on the annual Cricket Australia contract list meant he was the man for the Ashes.
When asked on Thursday after the contract list was announced, Bailey was non-committal when asked about Warner’s prospects with the left-hander’s double-century in the Boxing Day Test his only triple-figure score in his past 32 innings.
He averaged 9.5 in the 2019 Ashes while fellow opener Marcus Harris, who has leapfrogged Matt Renshaw in the pecking order after being named as a contracted player while the Queenslander was omitted, also limped to 58 runs at 9.66, as both were dominated by Stuart Broad.
Australia have always taken a back-up opener to England, but there are questions over whether Warner will hold his spot for the Ashes.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
“We’re three formats across all of those contracts. Trying to fit that in is first and foremost, the job,” Bailey said. “But I think Dave, like any player is, is at the mercy of selection.
“The Ashes is a huge series. And we’ll be looking to pick our best team. We’re going to have to have our best team playing incredibly well too, to challenge England over there the way they’re playing.”
Coach Andrew McDonald said last month Warner was “fully in Australia’s plans” for the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval, the week before the Ashes begins.
The selectors have shown their hand about their batting unit by offering Harris a national contract, while overlooking Renshaw and Peter Handscomb in the 24-man list.
Uncapped quick Lance Morris and finger-spinner Todd Murphy each received their maiden contracts on Thursday, while Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson are also on the list after being left out last year.
The squad contains a balance of red and white-ball players, with Australia to contest an Ashes, World Test Championship final and 50-over World Cup in the next 12 months. But the biggest shock was Harris’ return, after being omitted last year.
The opener has not played a Test match since January 2022 despite being part of multiple squads, and only represents the country in red-ball cricket. He had seemingly fallen behind Renshaw in the pecking order, who is firming in his battle with Warner to open for Australia in England in June.
Renshaw was also called in to bat in the middle order for the SCG Test ahead of Harris, and toured India while Harris was left at home. However, Thursday’s announcement suggests Harris is now a chance of a recall for the Ashes tour in June and July. Handscomb can also feel hard done by.
He batted his way back into Australia’s team after averaging 70 in the Sheffield Shield for Victoria, and played all four Tests in India.
Matt Renshaw of Australia walks off after he was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja of India. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Potentially working against him is the fact Australia do not tour the sub-continent again in the next year, where the Victorian is largely considered most effective.
“Harry was our spare batter throughout the Test summer at home,” Bailey said. “Matt Renshaw came in for him in Sydney as a bit of a precursor for a wicket we thought was going to play more like where we were about to head in India.
“But now looking ahead, back in England, another home summer and then some Tests in New Zealand. We certainly rate Harry’s ability in those conditions. A really good, strong record in England as well.
“Part of (the contract criteria) is past performance, but certainly one is an eye to the future as well. That perhaps gives an indication of where we hold Harry.”
Matthew Kuhnemann is another to miss out given the lack of Test cricket in Asia ahead, while legspinner Mitchell Swepson has also been left off the list.
Tim David is also a notable absentee after the white-ball specialist formed part of Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, but spends most his time as a gun-for-hire in franchise leagues around the world.
“Two huge challenges in the Test arena, in the World Test Championship and the Ashes are on our doorstep followed soon after by the ICC One-Day World Cup,” Bailey said. “We have chosen a group of players we expect will form the majority of those two campaigns and we know that we will need a squad mentality to achieve success.”
National contracts are worth an average of $951,000 under the sport’s new pay deal, with players left off the list automatically upgraded if they play enough international cricket.
NATIONALLY CONTRACTED MEN’S PLAYERS:
Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
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