Sam Konstas axed from Cricket Australia’s contract list for busy 2026-27 season

Cricket Australia has unveiled its 21-man national contract list for the looming 2026-27 campaign, and the headline casualty is 20-year-old batter Sam Konstas, whose explosive Boxing Day debut against India in 2024 now feels a distant memory. Konstas, who announced himself with an audacious 60 at the MCG, managed only 103 runs in his next nine Test innings at an average of 16.30, a slide that has cost him his place among the country’s highest-paid cricketers.

Chair of men’s national selectors George Bailey stressed the decision is not terminal for the youngster, pointing to a likely Australia A tour of India later in the year as a potential pathway back. “Nothing’s really changed in terms of the fact that the man is on a journey,” Bailey said. “He remains a player that we’re incredibly interested in.”

Konstas was joined on the outer by veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, quicks Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson, and top-order batter Matt Short, while the retired Usman Khawaja was also omitted.

In a boost for Queensland, paceman Brendan Doggett earned a maiden full contract after making his Ashes debut in Perth last November. Fellow opener Jake Weatherald held onto his upgraded deal despite a modest 22.33 average across five Ashes Tests, with Bailey praising his post-Ashes technical refinements and strong first-class record. “He’s the incumbent in that role,” Bailey noted, while stopping short of guaranteeing Weatherald will open against Bangladesh in August.

Michael Neser and Todd Murphy retained their contracts ahead of a schedule that begins with a two-Test home series against Bangladesh, followed by ODI tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa, a white-ball visit from England, and a bruising 10-Test block in 14 weeks against New Zealand, India, and England’s 150th Anniversary clash at the MCG.

The full contracted squad: 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, Adam Zampa.