Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris ‘in the mix’ for Test selection despite losing Cricket Australia contracts

WA fast bowlers Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris are still firmly “in the mix” to feature in Australia’s jam-packed upcoming Test schedule despite missing out on national contracts, according to chief selector George Bailey. Richardson was the shock omission from a 21-strong list of players who have earned Cricket Australia deals for the upcoming season, released on Wednesday. The speedster, who marked his return from major shoulder surgery to the Test arena on Boxing Day last year, has been contracted for the last three years despite his battles with a succession of injuries. Meanwhile, Morris — who has also held a national deal since 2023 but did not bowl a ball last summer after in August, opting to undergo spinal surgery in the hope of addressing long-running back problems — has also been axed. In their places, Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett have both been elevated to CA contracts. The now 36-year-old Neser claimed 15 wickets across three Ashes tests last summer, while Doggett managed seven across his first two games in the baggy green playing mostly as a short-ball enforcer. Bailey said Richardson and Morris would remain in the panel’s thoughts for the next 12 months, which will include home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, tours of India and South Africa and the one-off Sesquicentenary Test with England. “Our overarching principle of the contract list this year was balancing that reward of the core group that have performed incredibly well across all formats, but particularly the Test format, for a period of time now, versus what we need coming up,” Bailey said. “Jhye — and I’d throw Lance into this conversation as well — we thought it was really important to make sure we supported them through the last couple of years, as they were working through their injuries. “Jhye did an incredible job to get back and play that Test. We probably saw that he could function in a team with four quicks. He’s still got a little bit of work to do, I think, just to get back to top ball-speed and that intensity to be able to be in an attack with three quicks. “Lance is still just working his way back up to top speed and getting ready to play. “If you look ahead at that schedule over the next 12, 18 months, it’s incredibly busy, and we know we’re going to have to utilise some depth outside of the contracted list.” Players who do not hold CA deals are able to earn pro-rated upgrades by featuring in three Tests, six international limited overs-fixtures or a combination of red and white-ball games. When asked if the pair had expressed any disappointment after being told they would not retain their national contracts, Bailey remained guarded. “I think whatever levels of disappointment players have at whether they’re receiving a contract or not, I think the key bit for us is then what happens next,” he said. “Both of those players, the conversation quickly turned to the next connection points and touch points, whether it’s through the (training) camps or whether it’s through some of the squads that we’ll be picking over the coming months.” The pair’s omission from the CA contract means they will return WA’s State contract list, which is set to create a salary cap squeeze for new coach Beau Casson’s first season in charge. CA’s memorandum of understanding with the Australian Cricketers’ Association allows between 20 and 24 full-time contracts to be offered, with this year’s list reduced to 21 players from 23 last season. Off-spinner Todd Murphy has earned something of a surprise recall as one of three spinners alongside Nathan Lyon and Matt Kuhnemann, despite not being called upon for the final two Tests of the Ashes after Lyon went down with a groin injury. With the contracting period to include a five-Test tour of India early next year, Bailey said striking a balance between seamers and spinners was “tricky”. “We’re just trying to maintain that connection with Todd — he was really, really close to playing in Sydney, we like the skill-set he brings,” he said. “India. we know we’re going to need some spin depth. England (in 2027), we know we’re going to need some spin depth. Not entirely sure that’s going to be applicable for South Africa and then the top end’s probably a little bit of an unknown.”