Three outstanding newcomers from the Test summer, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster, and Matthew Kuhnemann, have been given national men’s contracts by Melbourne Cricket Australia for the 2025–2026 campaign.

All-rounders Sean Abbott and Aaron Hardie, as well as spinner Todd Murphy, are the only players left off Cricket Australia’s final 23-man roster, which was revealed on Tuesday. There have been just three changes from the previous season.

After making impressive debuts in international cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series triumph, Konstas and Webster have secured their first CA agreements. During the subsequent tour of Sri Lanka, Kuhnemann excelled, taking 16 wickets in two Test matches.

Kuhnemann, 28, had a wild ride after playing despite a damaged thumb on that tour, getting a citation for a questionable bowling action, and then being cleared.

However, Kuhnemann is now Nathan Lyon’s preferred sidekick, surpassing both Murphy and Sheffield Shield star Corey Rocchiccioli. Although he was promoted to a national contract in 2023, the left-armer is making the first list for the first time.

As Webster and Konstas strive to be included in Australia’s squad for the World Test Championship final in June, the list also serves as a vote of confidence for the two players. There is competition for top-order slots as a result of Josh Inglis’ explosive debut in Sri Lanka and Cameron Green’s impending injury comeback.

Ahead of the WTC final and three-Test trip to the Caribbean, selection boss George Bailey also criticized Mitchell Marsh, who was left off the Test squad in January and has since lost time due to a back injury before making a comeback as a batter in the IPL.

“Matt (Kuhnemann) was outstanding once again in Sri Lanka and we believe he can play a key role across the next 18 months,” Bailey said in a statement. Beau’s bat and ball skills at the Test level were more than enough, and he gives the field and the team’s balance a new dimension.

“There will be welcome and healthy rivalry for spots for the World Test Championship and West Indies trips now that Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh are back. In a statement, Bailey stated, “We see promising upside in Sam as a young player who will continue to develop at first class level and in the international environment.”

If non-contracted players participate in enough international games over the course of the next 12 months, they may get contract upgrades. According to CA’s agreement with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, the first contract list must include 20–24 players.

The most noteworthy absence is perhaps Cooper Connolly, who made his debut for Australia in all three forms within the last six months. Nathan McSweeney, who traveled to Sri Lanka as a backup batsman and participated in three Test matches against India, was also left out. In 2024–2025, both received contract improvements.

However, fast bowlers Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, and Xavier Bartlett all kept their contracts in spite of having injury-plagued seasons in 2024–2025.

Australia’s top priorities in the next months will be the WTC final and the Ashes next summer, but the men’s team will also play 19 T20 Internationals before a World Cup in that format in early 2026.

In addition, the Australians will play nine bilateral ODIs across three series as they get ready to defend their 50-over World Cup crown in 2027.

This comprises seven players—Connolly, Abbott, Hardie, Tanveer Sangha, Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson, and Jake Fraser-McGurk—who were part of Australia’s injury-plagued team in the most recent Champions Trophy. Last year, the latter two received contract upgrades.

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, and Xavier Bartlett are on Cricket Australia’s 2025–26 men’s contract list.