Glenn Maxwell (Getty Images) Star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell suffered a major setback when he was dropped from Cricket Australia’s national player contracts for the 2026-27 season. Australia are due to play 20 Tests in 12 months from August. With a Test-heavy schedule for Australia, Cricket Australia opted for Test specialists in their squad.Apart from Maxwell, young opening batsman Sam Konstas also failed to find his place in Cricket Australia’s national 21 players. Cricket Australia handed the contract to 31-year-old opener Jake Weatherald in place of Konstas.Matt Short was also dropped from last year’s list.Among the surprise omissions, fast bowler Jhye Richardson also did not find a place on the contract list.“The next 12 months include a busy test schedule across a range of conditions and challenges,” said men’s selection chairman George Bailey.
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KKR Depart from Mumbai after losing to Mumbai Indians“This is reflected in the contract list through the preponderance of Test and multi-format players for this cycle.”Australia will open their 2026-27 season with a two-match home series against the Bangladesh national cricket team in August. They will travel to Zimbabwe for three ODIs plus three ODIs and three Tests in South Africa during September and October.Australia return home for a white-ball series against the England cricket team, followed by 10 Tests in 14 weeks, starting with four at home to the New Zealand cricket team in December and January.A five-Test tour of India begins on January 21 and the season will conclude with the 150th anniversary Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 2027.Cricket Australia has signed men’s players for 2026-27:Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Stevec Smith, Zam Mitchell Webster
