On Tuesday (April 1), Cricket Australia announced a 23-player central contract list. Australia’s chief selector, George Bailey, said, “We see Sam as a talented young cricketer. He is fully prepared to prove himself in first-class and international cricket.”
At just 19 years old, Constas made a sensational debut against India in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. He played a fearless knock against Jasprit Bumrah, scoring 60 runs off 65 balls, including six fours and two sixes.
Another new name on the list is left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann. He was the Player of the Series in Australia’s 2-0 Test victory against Sri Lanka, taking 16 wickets. However, his bowling action was later reported as suspect. After undergoing tests at Brisbane’s National Cricket Centre, he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Bailey stated, “Matt once again performed exceptionally well in Sri Lanka, and we believe he could play a crucial role over the next 18 months.”
All-rounder Beau Webster, who scored 57 runs and hit the winning runs in the second innings of the fifth Test against India in Sydney, has also been included in the contract list.
The 31-year-old Webster can bowl both medium-fast and off-spin. Bailey remarked, “Beau has shown comfort in Test cricket with both bat and ball, while also adding an extra dimension in the field and contributing to the team’s balance.”
Australia will face South Africa in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June, followed by a three-match Test series against the West Indies. In November, the five-match Ashes series will commence in Perth.
Australia’s Centrally Contracted Players for 2025-26:
Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Constas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa.
