Selectors Eye World Cup in New Contract List

The probable direction for Australian cricket for the next twelve months, with a home series against India and then leading up to the 2019 World Cup and away Ashes series, appears to have been set by the announcement of the new Cricket Australia contract list, with a couple of winners and some notable losers standing out amongst the names announced yesterday.

The list appears to be heavy on current one day specialists, highlighting not only the emphasis on what will be an important twelve months leading up to the World Cup, but also on the dearth of immediately obvious candidates to take up positions in the Test team over the same period.

Neither Jackson Bird nor Chadd Sayers, who have been the number one support acts behind Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins this past summer in the Test squad, have been offered a contract, which suggests that the selectors have decided that are not the answer should injury knock down one of the ‘Big Three’, and that they will be looking elsewhere in the future.

It’s a huge comedown for both men. Bird has been the faithful 12th man for most of the past two years, only gaining a match on the stark and desolate road at the M.C.G. in December, while Sayers finally got his chance in the baggy green in the final Test in South Africa, but now looks as though he will join fellow Redbacks in Joe Mennie and Callum Ferguson as ‘One Test Wonders’.

The other major casualty of the new list is the casting aside of Adam Zampa, leaving his World Cup chances in great danger. He has been in and out of the ODI team over the past twelve months and while his results haven’t been startling he has shown good aptitude in difficult circumstances. It would appear that the selectors are siding towards the big hitting Ashton Agar and part-time spin options like Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell for their World Cup team, which squeezes Zampa out of the equation.

Coming in to World Cup consideration are the fast bowling Richardson pair of Jhye and Kane, and the economical trickery of Andrew Tye. All three will be looking to book places in the squad behind the ‘Big Three’, with Tye probably the favourite at the moment. Having toured South Africa as a back-up paceman, Jhye may already be considered as the next in line for a Test place as well given the fate of both Bird and Sayers.

There was also recognition for Marcus Stoinis who will be a major factor of that ODI squad and in some people’s eyes will also be looked at for the Test squad.

Tim Paine and Alex Carey are the nominated wicket-keepers at the expense of Matthew Wade, and Paine will no doubt have received a hefty increase given his rise in stature following the departure of Steve Smith and David Warner. Whether he captains the ODI team as well as the Test team, or that duty is given to Aaron Finch is yet to be seen. Also given Carey’s excellent debut in the T20I team in February, he may well retain that role in the future as well.

Shaun Marsh returns to the contract list, which not only suggests he is still well and truly in the Test match frame, but may also make a surprise return to the ODI team as Finch’s opening partner in place of Warner. Marsh has good statistics as an opener in one day cricket, and retaining the left/right combination at the top of the order would be a bonus.

The glaring deficiency in the contract list is for the next line of Test batsmen. It reveals that the selectors have about as much idea as to whom will be in the team as every armchair selector in the country. It should be a signal to every batsman in Australia that big early runs in the Sheffield Shield, much like Cameron Bancroft did last season, could be the springboard to a Test cap.

Those not on the contract list are not finished. All can be added at a later date should their form and selection warrant it. But as an initial look at what the selectors are thinking for the Smith/Warner/Bancroft-less twelve months ahead, it is an interesting landscape ahead for the Australian cricket team.