Cricket Australia revealed the men's centrally contracted list for the season 2025-26. The list of 23 includes three new names: Beau Webster, Sam Konstas, and Matthew Kuhnemann.

Sam Konstas made a debut test appearance against India during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which impressed cricket administrators, earning him a central contract. Opening his Test account as a teenager of 19, he did amazingly well when pitted against world-class bowlers and gave instant returns in his first effort.

Matthew Kuhnemann, the left-arm spinner, played a key part in Australia's series victory over Sri Lanka. He picked 16 wickets in two matches and was also declared Player of the Series. His consistent play has seen him included in the team as Nathan Lyon's reserve.

Beau Webster, who is an all-rounder, impressed everyone with his batting and bowling skills on his Test debut. His dual ability as a medium-fast bowler and off-spinner brings balance to the Australian team. Chief selector George Bailey had all praise for Webster's efforts, emphasizing his flexibility and promise.

The trio takes the place of Sean Abbott, Aaron Hardie, and Todd Murphy, who were excluded from contracts this year. Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Spencer Johnson, who have represented Australia in limited-overs cricket, also did not cut. T20 specialists Tim David and Marcus Stoinis are outside the contracted list but are likely to play in the shortest format.

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Cricket Australia's centrally contracted players for 2025-26:

The list shows Cricket Australia's determination to have a solid team across all formats. With players like Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green back from injury, Australia anticipates a lively international season.

India’s prominent batter, Shreyas Iyer, recently opened up about his struggles with back issues, particularly after the 2023 ODI World Cup, and how missing a few first-class games last season, citing back problems, culminating in him losing his central contract with the BCCI. Iyer, who captains the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL, shared that his concerns about his back problems were initially dismissed.

Shreyas Iyer’s Back Problems

Iyer first raised concerns about his back following the 2023 ODI World Cup. Despite his efforts to communicate the severity of his condition, he needed more agreement from the medical staff and team management.

After the World Cup, Iyer’s struggles continued. He noted significant difficulties while playing in longer formats, an issue that was exacerbated by his unaddressed back problems.

“I was definitely struggling after the World Cup in the longer format,” Iyer, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain, said a day before the IPL final against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Chennai. “When I raised my concern, no one was agreeing to it.

“But at the same time the competition is with myself. When the IPL was approaching all I wanted to see was that I’ve put my best foot forward and whatever planning and strategising we [KKR] did before it, basically if we could execute it to the best of our abilities, we would have been in a great spot – and that’s where we are right now.”

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Return to Competitive Cricket

Iyer’s return to form led to his selection for the first two home Tests against England in early 2024. However, back spasms following the second Test forced him out of the remaining matches. This disruption highlighted ongoing concerns about his fitness and readiness for continuous play.

Conflicting Commitments

Conflicting commitments compounded his challenges. Iyer missed several Ranji Trophy games for his domestic side, Mumbai, while attending a KKR pre-season camp. This decision drew scrutiny, particularly given the timing and importance of these domestic fixtures.

BCCI’s Stance

The BCCI’s stance on prioritizing domestic cricket over the IPL added another layer of complexity. Secretary Jay Shah’s warning to players underscored the importance of domestic commitments. Despite meeting the minimum criteria set by the board, Iyer lost his central contract, a decision influenced by these conflicting priorities.

Injury Management and Communication

Iyer’s communication with the Mumbai Cricket Association indicated his ongoing struggles with back spasms, even though he was medically cleared for selection. This discrepancy highlighted issues in injury management and the importance of clear communication between players and management.

Preparations for IPL

Transitioning from red-ball to white-ball cricket posed its own set of challenges. Iyer discussed the difficulty of this transition and the importance of strategizing and planning to excel in the IPL. His preparations ensured he could contribute effectively to KKR’s campaign.

Talking about his preparations for the IPL, Iyer said: “The transformation from red-ball cricket to white ball, it’s kind of difficult as a batsman and also as a bowler, I feel. It was kind of difficult at the start but once you get used to it, I think you pick up the pace and march on with the other players.”