‘Their Worth Remains’: George Bailey Acknowledges Difficult Decision on Dropped Players Aaron Hardie and Todd Murphy

While there were notable successes in Cricket Australia’s recent national contract list, selector George Bailey has acknowledged that some players were rather “unlucky” to miss out.

New entrants Sam Konstas, Beau Webster, and Matt Kuhnemann were the standout additions to the 23-man squad announced on Tuesday, all recognised for their impressive Test performances.

However, as is common with such announcements, disappointments were also present.

Todd Murphy, who now seems to hold the position of Australia’s third-choice spinner for red-ball cricket, was excluded from the contract list, while all-rounder Aaron Hardie’s absence came as a surprise.

Experienced bowler Sean Abbott, who has recently turned 33, was also left off the list.

In comments made to the media post-announcement, Bailey elaborated on the decisions and expressed hope to see all three omitted players don the green and gold in future matches.

“All three individuals who were left off are notably unlucky,” he stated.

“Striking the right balance for the list involves considering skill sets, rewarding past performances, and looking ahead to upcoming fixtures.”

“Even without a contract, these players remain valued and their position in the line-up hasn’t necessarily diminished in specific formats.” 

Bailey also indicated that Cooper Connolly, who debuted in all three formats in the past year, might feel he was unfortunate to also miss out on the 2024 contract list.

Despite the cutbacks, veteran opener Usman Khawaja remains a part of the squad, having delivered a phenomenal series against Sri Lanka that secured his spot without a doubt.

“His performance throughout the Sri Lanka series was extraordinary, and his consistency has been impressive,” Bailey commented.

“While we haven’t had detailed discussions, he’s openly stated that he prefers not to look too far ahead or set an end date on his career.”

Khawaja aims to participate in the Ashes later this year against England.