Young Australian cricketer Sam Contas Has been included in the 14 -member Australia A team selected for the tour of India in September 2025. This team will play a two -day red ball match against India A in Lucknow.
This opportunity is very special for Contas, as it will give them the experience of playing in India’s difficult conditions, which will help in preparing the Test series in India in 2027. This selection also makes it clear that Australian selectors are working on a plan to prepare young and talented players for future big tours, as some changes are expected in the national team in the coming time.
At the age of just 19, the Contas is the only player in Australia A team who has played Test cricket. At the beginning of this season of Sheffield Shield, he scored two brilliant centuries, which took place for the first time after Ricky Ponting. Due to this performance, he is now being considered a strong contender to open in Australia’s Test team in future.
Contas’s batting style is aggressive and he caught everyone’s attention by scoring 60 runs in his Test debut against India. He did not look nervous even when the atmosphere was challenging and the Indian team was playing with full force. Batting with him on this tour includes young player Nathan McSwini, Oliver Peak and Emerging Opener Campbell Kelave. Surprisingly, experienced batsmen like Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Rainshow are not in this team.
Chairman of Australia selectors George Bailey Told that the visit of subcontinent countries like India gives players a great opportunity to understand and deal with the difficult situations there. The purpose of this tour is to learn to bat better against the spin bowlers and adopt small tricks in bowling.
In this 2025 tour, young off -spinners Tod Murphy and Corey Rokikoli, as well as all -rounders Cooper Konoli and Aaron Hardy will get a great opportunity to show their red ball game in harsh conditions.
While two four -day Test matches will be the main attraction in Lucknow, three ODI matches will also be played in Kanpur during the tour. This will also give players a chance to improve in limited overs cricket. The tour shows that Australia is thinking of preparing its players in every format. This is not just the preparation of the upcoming Ashes series, but is part of the plan till 2027, when senior players like Steve Smith may get out of the team and lead young faces like Sam Costas.
Australia A four -day team: Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Konoli, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardy, Campbell Kelave, Sam Contas, Nathan McSwini, Lance Morris, Tod Murphy, Fergas O’neel, Oliver Peak, Josh Philip, Kori Rchichioli, Liam Scott
Australia A (One day team): Cooper Konoli, Harry Dixon, Jack Edwards, Sam Elliot, Jake Fraser-Macgark, Aaron Hardy, McKenzie Harvey, Tod Merfi, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachi Shaw, Tom Struker, Will Sadlerland, Calm Vidler
