Classy Bull at contract gate

Xavier Bartlett’s outstanding entrance into the international scene is set to parlay into a maiden Cricket Australia central contract.

All indications are that the Queensland paceman will be on a regenerated CA national list for the 2024-25 season, one that will include Victoria’s Matt Short and likely West Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie.

CA is finalising its contract list for next season. Under the memorandum of understanding signed last year, CA can offer anywhere between 20 and 24 male central contracts.

The governing body used the full allotment of 24 last year, although it is no guarantee to fill every spot this time around.

David Warner will come off the list following his staggered international retirement, while long-time understudy Marcus Harris will lose his place.

Veterans Marcus Stoinis and Michael Neser, and fringe white-ball spinner Ashton Agar, are the others tipped by industry sources to fall from the list. There remains intrigue too around injury-prone paceman Jhye Richardson.

Bulls and Brisbane Heat seamer Bartlett, 25, who starred on debut against the West Indies last month, is an almost certain addition, as are Vics and Adelaide Strikers blaster Short and WA’s Hardie, both of whom played across both international white-ball formats this season.

Specialist whiteball paceman Nathan Ellis is also in contention.

Emerging leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha is set to miss out despite a promising start to his international career, while sources are also expecting leftarm speedster Spencer Johnson to be pipped, even after earning a lucrative Indian Premier League contract.

Sources have also cast doubt over whether Matt Renshaw will receive a deal despite being picked as the spare batter for Australia’s recent Test series against New Zealand and the