Star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has taken a significant hit to his international plans after being left out of Cricket Australia’s list of nationally contracted players for the 2026-27 season. The decision comes as Australia prepare for an unusually Test-heavy stretch, with the national side set to play 20 matches in a 12-month window beginning in August.
Quick facts: CA contracts for 2026-27
- Glenn Maxwell was removed from Cricket Australia’s nationally contracted players list for 2026-27.
- Cricket Australia will play 20 Tests in a 12-month period starting from August.
- Sam Konstas, an emerging opener, was also not retained among the 21 contracted players.
- Jake Weatherald (31) received a contract in place of Konstas.
- Matt Short was dropped from last year’s contracted list.
- Fast bowler Jhye Richardson was another notable omission from the contract group.
With Australia’s calendar packed with long-format cricket, Cricket Australia has leaned toward players viewed as Test-ready or capable of handling multiple formats. Maxwell’s exit is among the more eye-catching changes, signalling that selectors are prioritising a squad built for sustained red-ball workloads.
Alongside Maxwell, young opening batter Sam Konstas failed to secure a spot in the 21-man nationally contracted group. In a direct reshuffle, Cricket Australia awarded a contract to opener Jake Weatherald, a 31-year-old, taking Konstas’s place for the 2026-27 cycle.
There were additional alterations to the contracted ranks. Matt Short, who was part of the previous year’s list, has been dropped, while fast bowler Jhye Richardson also missed out among the surprise omissions.
Why Cricket Australia made the call
George Bailey, the chair of men’s selectors, pointed to the demands of the coming season when explaining the approach. “The next 12 months encompasses a busy Test schedule across a range of conditions and challenges,” Bailey said, adding that the contract list mirrors that reality through a strong presence of Test specialists and multi-format options.
Australia’s 2026-27 campaign is set to begin with a two-match home series against Bangladesh in August. After that, they are scheduled to tour overseas for three One-Day Internationals in Zimbabwe, before moving to South Africa for three ODIs and three Tests across September and October.
The side then returns home for a white-ball engagement against England, followed by a demanding run of 10 Tests in 14 weeks. That stretch starts with four Tests at home against New Zealand in December and January, setting the tone for a season defined by continuous red-ball cricket.
A major overseas assignment follows, with a five-Test tour of India beginning on January 21. The campaign is then expected to conclude with a special landmark Test—the 150th anniversary match against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 2027.
Cricket Australia’s nationally contracted men’s players for 2026-27 are: 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, and Adam Zampa.
