Cricket Australia has announced its list of contracted men’s players for the 2025/26 season, with spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, teenage opener Sam Konstas and all-rounder Beau Webster earning a contract for the first time.
On Tuesday afternoon, CA revealed the 23 players that had been offered national contracts, with rising star Cooper Connolly, seamer Sean Abbott, all-rounder Aaron Hardie and spinner Todd Murphy missing out.
Kuhnemann has endured a rollercoaster couple of months, finishing the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy as the leading wicket-taker before having his bowling action report by match officials. The 28-year-old spinner cleared his name after undergoing independent testing in Brisbane.
The Tasmanian’s promotion comes at the expense of fellow spinner Murphy, who was dropped for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Konstas and Webster both made their Test debuts during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign against India, helping Australia win back the coveted trophy for the first time in nearly a decade.
Elsewhere, batter Matt Short and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh were offered contracts despite inconsistent performances over the last 12 months. Hardie, Abbott and Murphy are the only players that dropped off the list from last summer.
“Matt (Kuhnemann) was outstanding once again in Sri Lanka and we believe he can play a key role across the next 18 months,” chief selector George Bailey said in a statement.
“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.”
Matthew Kuhnemann of Australia. Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images
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
