Cricket Australia reveals the 2026-27 contracted players list and key changes.
Table of Contents
Cricket Australia has officially released its list of contracted players for the 2026-27 season, emphasizing a strategy focused on the upcoming Test schedule.
The announcement confirms the exclusion of veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and young batter Sam Konstas, while introducing pacer Brendan Doggett to the national setup for the first time.
Cricket Australia 2026-27 Contract List Updates
The selection panel has prioritized multi-format and specialist Test players to manage a dense international calendar.
This schedule includes home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, followed by a five-match series in India and the 150th Anniversary Test in Melbourne.
Consequently, white-ball specialists and those with recent injury concerns faced limited selection for the national contracts.
Brendan Doggett earned his debut inclusion following a successful Test introduction during the Ashes, where he secured seven wickets in two appearances.
He becomes only the second Indigenous Australian to play Test cricket for the men’s national side. Additionally, Michael Neser and Todd Murphy have been reintegrated into the central roster of players.
Notable Exclusions and Roster Changes
Several high-profile names were omitted from the latest list of contracted players. Glenn Maxwell, who retired from One Day Internationals last year, is no longer featured, and Sam Konstas lost his position following a period of poor form in the Test arena.
Matt Short and the recently retired Usman Khawaja were also among the notable absences.
- Brendan Doggett: Included for the first time after a seven-wicket haul in his first two Tests.
- Jake Weatherald: Retained his spot as a top-order option despite a challenging Ashes series.
- Jhye Richardson: Not named in the list despite making a return to the Test team in Melbourne.
- Lance Morris: Dropped from the central list following a significant back injury.
Full List of Contracted Players
The final 2026-27 cohort consists of 21 players selected to cover a range of international conditions.
The list includes Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, and Adam Zampa.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026-27 contract list focuses heavily on Test match readiness for major upcoming series in India and at home.
- Brendan Doggett is the sole new addition, while Michael Neser and Todd Murphy return to the central list.
- Glenn Maxwell and Sam Konstas are the most prominent departures from the previous season’s contracted group.
Quiz
| Question |
| Which player is the only new addition to the 2026-27 contract list? A) Sam Konstas B) Brendan Doggett C) Jake Weatherald D) Lance Morris |
| Which veteran all-rounder was excluded after retiring from ODIs last year? A) Steve Smith B) Glenn Maxwell C) Mitchell Marsh D) Matt Short |
| Against which team will Australia play a five-match series later this cycle? A) Bangladesh B) New Zealand C) India D) South Africa |