Sam Konstas among five Aussies axed as Jake Weatherald promoted in contract shake-up

Jake Weatherald has been given the backing to remain Test opener ahead of the Australia’s busiest 12 months in history, after winning a maiden national contract.

Australia’s selectors showed their hand on Wednesday, elevating Weatherald to the full-time list and omitting Sam Konstas from the group.

Jhye Richardson was also left out despite making his Test comeback during the Ashes, with Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser instead on the list.

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Todd Murphy also returns to join Matt Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon as spinners among the group ahead of five Tests in India, after being left out last year.

Veteran white-ball star Glenn Maxwell, speedster Lance Morris and Matt Short have also fallen off the list, alongside the retiring Usman Khawaja.

Weatherald scored 201 runs at 22.33 in the Ashes, far from locking himself in as a long-term opener.

Open and shut case: Jake Weatherald has been given a place on Cricket Australia’s contract list. Credit: AAP

But the fact he has been handed a contract is an early indication that he will hold on to the spot for two Tests against Bangladesh in August.

From there, Australia have three Tests in South Africa, four at home against New Zealand and five in India.

Beyond that, there is the 150-year Test against England at the MCG in March, a potential World Test Championship final in June, before the 2027 Ashes in England.

Konstas won his maiden national contract last year, but was dropped from the side in the Ashes and had returns of 660 runs at 33 in the Sheffield Shield.

The 20-year-old finished his season with eight straight starts of scores above 25, but failed to turn any of them into a half-century for NSW.

Players can still be elevated to the list throughout the season, if they play enough international matches.

“The next 12 months encompasses a busy Test schedule across a range of conditions and challenges,” chief selector George Bailey said on Wednesday.“This is reflected in the contract list through a predominance of Test and multi-format players for this cycle.

“Given the upcoming schedule of series we know we will continue to need and utilise players outside of those contracted.”

Also of note is the fact Cricket Australia have dropped their number of contracted players from 23 to 21, with the current pay deal allowing for anywhere between 20 and 24.

The slightly shorter list will in theory allow elite players to be paid more at the top end, with the battle to retain talent from cashed-up T20 leagues continuing to loom.

CRICKET AUSTRALIA MEN’S CONTRACT LIST 2026-27

Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa