The ball tampering saga has officially come to its conclusion with former Australian cricket team captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner being cut loose by Cricket Australia after the contracts were released for 20 male players for the 2018/19 season.
The move was hardly a surprise after Smith and Warner received 12 month suspensions, while rookie opener Cameron Bancroft was banned for a year, for their roles in a plot to use sandpaper on the ball against South Africa in the third Test at Cape Town.
Smith and Warner have already paid a heavy price financially after losing their lucrative IPL deals, while the trio have also had personal sponsors desert them as more details came to light of the incident.
It is believed their deals with CA were worth over $2 million each, while Bancroft was in line to be added to the list this season before the events in Cape Town.
“When compiling this list, we reviewed what players have produced over the past 12 months, and importantly where they might fit in the upcoming year,” national selector Trevor Hohns said.
“It’s a tough process, but we’re very satisfied with this group of 20 players.
“We think this a well-balanced list to represent Australia across all three formats.”
Players not awarded contracts as part of the initial squad of 20 can earn upgrades throughout the year by accruing 12 upgrade points. Players receive five points for a Test, two for an ODI and one for a T20I.
Cricket Australia issued a statement saying that contracts were issued based on player performances over the past 12 months, and players who the national selection panel believe could represent Australian teams in the upcoming year.
Shaun Marsh and new Australian Test captain Tim Paine, who both earned upgraded contacts during 2016-17, returned to the list of contracted players.
Among the players not offered national contracts were fast bowlers Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers, who have played Test cricket in the past six months. Adam Zampa was another notable exclusion, with the one day specialist omitted in a World Cup.
Source: nine.com