CA awards contracts to Pattinson, Harris

SYDNEY: Fast bowler James Pattinson and opener Marcus Harris were among Cricket Australia’s nationally contracted players announced Monday, but there was no room for Cameron Bancroft, Peter Siddle, or Marnus Labuschagne.

The list of 20 men’s players offered deals for the 2019-2020 season on the basis of their performances over the past 12 months also included, as expected, Steve Smith and David Warner despite neither padding up during the period.

They were omitted last year after being banned over the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. Bancroft, who was suspended for nine months over the same incident, missed out.

Others to be overlooked included Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson. They, along with Labuschagne, recently played Test cricket.

Matt Renshaw, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Andrew Tye, Mitchell Marsh and Ashton Agar, who previously had contracts, did not have them renewed.

Fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile, who wasn’t on the list last year, made the grade, but Pattinson was the biggest surprise having battled back from back surgery at the end of 2017.

Contracted list: Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Alex Carey, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.