Teen sensation Konstas, Kuhnemann earn Australia contracts. Teenage batting sensation Sam Konstas has been added to the list of contracted players for Australia in a massive vote of confidence in the two-Test opener
It was a remarkable 60 in his only Test this year, the one played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against India, but the 19-year-old was named among 23 contracted players on Tuesday, three months later.
Konstas was one of three players to receive their first contracts with the national team, alongside spinner Matt Kuhnemann and all-rounder Beau Webster.
The new trio comes at the expense of white-ball all-rounders Sean Abbott and Aaron Hardie, and seven-Test spinner Todd Murphy.
“Sam is a young player with exciting upside who still has plenty of first class level and international environment development ahead of him,” selector George Bailey said in a statement.
Kuhnemann’s contract, too, is a fillip for the left-arm spinner, who only recently cleared a suspected bowling action after a prolific tour of Sri Lanka.
Kuhnemann was reported for his bowling action after Player of the Series 16 wickets in Sri Lanka.
Webster, a Tasmania all-rounder, has made a solid start to Test cricket since his debut in Sydney against India, with 150 runs at an average of 50.00 in his three matches and three wickets with his medium-pace.
“Matt was exceptional again in Sri Lanka and we feel that he can be a pivotal player over the next 18-months.”
“To be fair to Beau, he was more than comfortable at Test level with the bat and ball, adds an extra dimension in the field and the balance of the side.”
A settled Australian squad is matched with a preference for continuity over change, with selectors keeping hold of 20 out of 23 players which retained their contracts.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh might count himself fortunate to be picked given the 33-year-old was replaced in the Australian side during the Test series in India having had a nightmare run of scores.
The fast bowler Jhye Richardson, who last played an international game nearly three years ago, was also retained.
Fringe pace bowlers Lance Morris and Xavier Bartlett held onto their contracts after limited opportunities with Australia in the 2024/25 season.