MELBOURNE (Reuters) – All-rounder Marcus Stoinis and spin bowler Ashton Agar have been left out of Australia’s contracts list for the 2024/25 season due to a decline in their popularity with selectors.
Stoinis was replaced by Marnus Labuschagne in Australia’s ODI team during the World Cup in India and has not been included in the team since, while Agar has only appeared in one international match in the past year.
The pair from Western Australia were excluded from the 23-man central contracts list released on Thursday, alongside test opener Marcus Harris, paceman Michael Neser, and the retiring David Warner.
The annual contracts list provides insight into the hierarchy within Australian cricket before the start of a new season, although players can be elevated based on their performance during the season.
Queensland fast bowler Xavier Bartlett is the sole newcomer on the list, following his impressive debut ODI series against West Indies and T20I debut against the same team in February.
Tasmania fast bowler Nathan Ellis, Western Australia all-rounder Aaron Hardie, and white-ball batter Matt Short were retained after being promoted during the previous season.
“Matt, Aaron, and Xavier have shown outstanding potential in the early stages of their international careers,” stated chief selector George Bailey.
“The panel believes they have promising futures and have earned their contracts as they aim to establish themselves as regulars in the Australian squad.”
Australia, the reigning ODI and test champions, will compete for a second T20 World Cup title in the United States and the Caribbean at the upcoming tournament in June.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
