Cricket Australia slash contract list, Will Pucovski cut

He’s the future of Australia’s Test batting stocks, but Will Pucovski has failed to make the 17-man cut for a top CA contract.

Will Pucovski is set to be cut from Cricket Australia’s test contract list. Picture: AFP.

Will Pucovski has been sensationally snubbed by Cricket Australia with Test cricket’s next superstar denied a central contract.

The Herald Sun can reveal that CA has slashed its men’s contract list from the standard size of 20 players to the bare minimum of 17 – and that Pucovski has failed to make the cut.

Selectors want Pucovski and David Warner to open the batting for Australia in next summer’s home Ashes series against England although there was enough doubt surrounding Pucovski’s recovery from shoulder surgery to leave him off the golden list.

CA will reveal its contract list on Thursday, which will include boom all-rounder Cameron Green for the first time.

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Will Pucovski is set to be cut from Cricket Australia’s test contract list. Picture: AFP.

It is understood that cricket powerbrokers have decided to slash the list size by 15 per cent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the AFL and NRL making minimal changes to their playing lists.

Captain Tim Paine and his men will travel 2020-2021 without playing any Test cricket overseas.

The women’s list size remained untouched for 2021-2022, with 15 players again offered contracts.

In total CA has offered 32 central contracts and the 17-15 split of male and female players is the most even it has ever been.

Four years ago there were 33 CA contracts split 20-13.

Cameron Green is set to be included in Australia’s test contract list for the first time. Picture: Getty Images.

The elevation of Green and overall reduction overall has meant that at least four men’s players from last year have lost their contracts.

Axed opener Joe Burns is understood to have missed out while wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who captained Australia’s T20 side against India in December was also on the edge.

But it was the oversight of Pucovski that was set to land as the biggest surprise.

The 23-year-old Victorian fought back from a series of concussions and mental health battles to score 62 in his Test debut against India at the SCG in January.

But Pucovski has not played since due to a shoulder problem aggravated in that match that ultimately required surgery.

Superstar Pat Cummins will remain the No.1 ranked Aussie on the list – and therefore command the most dollars – while Marnus Labuschagne has scored another healthy pay rise.

Originally published as Cricket Australia slash contract list, Will Pucovski cut