Marcus Harris wins back central contract in hint to Ashes plans

Players on the periphery of Australia’s Test side have been rewarded with national contracts as two spin bowlers miss out.

Marcus Harris has returned to Australia’s centrally contracted group of players after missing out on a deal last season. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio / Getty Images

Marcus Harris has returned to Australia’s list of centrally contracted players in a sign the left-hander is front of mind for selectors ahead of the Ashes.

The Victorian opener only managed one Test match in the previous year following his omission from the CA roster but has been rewarded for his consistent run-making at the domestic level after he posted 601 runs and two centuries in the Sheffield Shield this summer.

It’s a sign Harris may be preferred to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order when Australia tours England this winter for the World Test Championship final and the Ashes.

Cameron Bancroft, who made four tons as he finished the summer with 945 Sheffield Shield runs at a superb average of 59, was overlooked from the list, which expanded from 20 to 24 players under the new memorandum of understanding between CA and the cricketers’ association.

Uncapped fast bowler Lance Morris has received his first CA contract. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

Todd Murphy and Lance Morris earnt their first contracts after touring India, while Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson were offered deals despite neither featuring heavily at international level over the past year, indicating their strong chances of playing in England.

Mitch Swepson and the retired Aaron Finch came off the list of contracted players, while Matthew Wade, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Matthew Kuhnemann received upgrades during the year due to their number of international appearances but were not offered deals for the coming season.

Mitch Swepson was omitted from the contracted list, while Queensland teammate Matt Kuhnemann was not offered a deal. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Chair of national selectors George Bailey said the looming six Tests in England and ODI World Cup in India later this year were the focus of the contracting decisions.

“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,” he said.

“As we find each year now, there is a lot of cricket in the next six to 12 months and our depth will be tested.

“The six Test matches during the winter are in relatively short succession and we have a busy period of whit- ball cricket leading up to, and post, the ODI World Cup.”

Cricket Australia contracted men’s players 2023-24:

Sean Abbott (NSW/Parramatta District Cricket Club)

Ashton Agar (WA/University Cricket Club)

Scott Boland (VIC/Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club)

Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)

Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club)

Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)

Marcus Harris (VIC/St Kilda Cricket Club)

Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club)

Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)

Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club)

Usman Khawaja (QLD/Valley District Cricket Club)

Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club)

Nathan Lyon (NSW/Northern District Cricket Club)

Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club)

Glenn Maxwell (VIC/Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club)

Lance Morris (WA/Scarborough Cricket Club)

Todd Murphy (VIC/St Kilda Cricket Club)

Michael Neser (QLD/Gold Coast District Cricket Club)

Jhye Richardson (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club)

Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)

Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club)

Marcus Stoinis (WA/Subiaco Floreat Cricket Club)

David Warner (NSW/Randwick Petersham Cricket Club)

Adam Zampa (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)

Originally published as Marcus Harris wins back central contract in hint to Ashes plans