Australia selectors look beyond exiled leaders and focus on World Cup

The new post-ball tampering crisis era of Australian cricket starts on Wednesday when Cricket Australia names a contract list which for the first time in nine years will not include Steve Smith or David Warner.

With the next World Cup falling within the 2018/19 contract period, selectors have placed a strong emphasis on the white-ball formats in what is expected to be a 20-man list.

Tim Paine will be among the highest paid players in Australian cricket
Photo: AP

The announcement, to be made on Wednesday, will give an indication as to who Trevor Hohns' panel have in mind to be part of Australia's World Cup defence in England.

There could be as many as eight players who have not worn the baggy green earning central contracts, while injured pace ace James Pattinson is tipped to drop off for the first time since 2010/11.

Also under pressure to retain their deals from 2017/18 are Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Matthew Wade and Adam Zampa.

Zampa's likely omission means he faces a difficult task to retain his status as Australia's premier slow bowler in the 50-over game.

Shaun Marsh is expected to return to the list after playing a pivotal role in Australia regaining the Ashes, though the batting depth is a concern with Smith and Warner absent after accepting 12-month bans.

Opener Matt Renshaw will hold his contract with Cameron Bancroft ineligible.

Bowing out: James Pattinson won't be included in the contract list.
Photo: Cricket Australia

Newly appointed skipper Tim Paine is back for the first time in seven years and is set to rank highly on CA's formula, which takes into consideration the likelihood a player will be selected in the contract period.

White-ball specialists Andrew Tye, Jhye Richardson and Kane Richardson are likely to earn their first CA contracts after impressive limited-over form.

Meanwhile, pace ace Pat Cummins has become the latest casualty of Australia's disastrous tour of South Africa after pulling out of the Indian Premier League with a back injury. CA is erring on the side of caution with the star fast bowler, who has developed hot spots in his back after bearing a heavy workload during the series against England and South Africa.

The injury is not understood to be serious but there will not be any risks taken with Cummins, who has a long history of back-related problems. It is unclear if Cummins will be available for Australia's next assignment - a one-day international series in England which, until Smith's and Warner's suspensions, was being seen as a dress rehearsal for next year's World Cup.

"Pat experienced some back soreness during the fourth Test in South Africa. Follow-up scans have confirmed that he has bone oedema in his vertebrae," CA team physiotherapist David Beakley said. "It is important that Pat has time off bowling, to prevent the injury becoming more serious and consequently we have made the decision to rule Pat out of the IPL.

"Pat will now undergo a period of recovery and rehabilitation and we will look to re-scan him in a few weeks to assess the healing. Following this we will be in a better position to decide on Pat's return to play timeline including participation in the limited overs tour of the UK."

LIKELY CONTRACT LIST

Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.