MELBOURNE: All-rounder Marcus Stoinis and spin bowler Ashton Agar have been dropped from Australia’s 2024/25 contract list after falling out of favor with the selectors.
Stoinis lost his place in Australia’s ODI squad to Marnus Labuschagne during the World Cup in India and has not been seen in the team since then, while left-arm spinner Agar has played just one international match in the past year.
The West Australian duo were dropped from the 23-man central contract list released on Thursday, along with Test opener Marcus Harris, paceman Michael Neser and the outgoing David Warner.
The annual contract list offers a snapshot of the pecking order in Australian cricket before the start of the new season, although players can be promoted to it based on performance during the season.
Queensland quick Xavier Bartlett is the only new face on the list, rewarded after his impressive ODI series debut against the West Indies and T20I debut against the Caribbean side in February.
Tasmanian fast bowler Nathan Ellis, Western Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie and white-ball batsman Matt Short remain after being promoted last season.
“Matt, Aaron and Xavier have been extremely impressive in the early stages of their international careers,” head of match selectors George Bailey said in a statement.
“The panel believe they have a strong future and deserve their contracts as they work to become regulars in the Australian set-up.”
Australia, the ODI and Test world champions, will be bidding for a second T20 World Cup title in the United States and the Caribbean at the tournament starting in June.
