Sam Konstas headlines three newcomers to Cricket Australia contract list

Teenage cricket sensation Sam Konstas has taken a step in his emerging career after putting pen to paper on a monster new deal.

Australian selectors have reinforced they see Sam Konstas as the future of the Test side, despite being overlooked for the tour of Sri Lanka, after they handed the teenage phenom his first national contract for the 2025-26 season.

Konstas, finger spinner Matt Kuhnemann and all-rounder Beau Webster were the three newcomers to a 23-strong national contract list announced on Tuesday.

Victorian Todd Murphy is one of the omissions from last season.

Australia is able to contract between 20 and 24 players for each season.

Konstas burst onto the scene in a stunning Boxing Day take-down of Indian superstar Jasprit Bumrah, scoring a rapid half-century in front of a roaring MCG crowd.

Konstas has been rewared by Cricket Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)

He didn’t feature in the following series in Sri Lanka but remains a chance to share opening duties against South Africa in the World Test Championship final with Usman Khawaja.

Like Konstas, Webster debuted in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and made a half-century on debut while Kuhnemann took a series-high 16 wickets in Sri Lanka.

Australian chairman of selectors George Bailey welcomed the additions of Konstas, Kuhnemann and Webster, saying the Test side has “healthy competition for places”.

“Matt was outstanding once again in Sri Lanka and we believe he can play a key role across the next 18 months,” he said.

Konstas has won an Australian national contract. Picture: Michael Klein

“In Beau’s case he proved more than comfortable at Test level with bat and ball, adds an additional dimension in the field and to the balance of the side.

“With Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh returning there will be welcome and healthy competition for places for the World Test Championship and West Indies tours.

“In Sam we see promising upside in a young player who will continue to develop at first class level and in the international environment.”

Australia has the World Test Championship final in June before a multi-format series against West Indies.

Cricket Australia contracted men’s players 2025-26:

Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa.