Aussies add four to contract list with Carey rejecting deal

Phoebe Litchfield, Grace Harris, Kim Garth and Heather Graham have been added to Cricket Australia’s list of women’s contracts, with the quartet becoming the beneficiaries of the additional national agreements to be made available under Cricket’s new memorandum of understanding.

The total number of available CA women’s contracts rose from 15 to 18 under the new MoU, with 17 players on the 2023-24 list announced on Wednesday.

Tasmanian all-rounder Nicola Carey was offered the 18th contract but turned it down, while retired former vice-captain Rachael Haynes is the other absence from last season’s list.

The other 13 players who had CA contracts in 2022-23 kept their positions.

Cricket Australia Women’s Contract List, 2023-24: Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Harris received a contract upgrade in 2022 after becoming a key member of Australia’s T20I junior high following her return to the international stage during the multi-format Ashes in January 2022.

Former Ireland all-rounder Garth, youthful batter Litchfield and Tasmanian all-rounder Graham have been handed CA contracts for the first time.

“Grace Harris earned an upgrade last season and went on to play every game during the T20 World Championship. She’s a versatile cricketer who can influence games with both bats and the ball,” said Shawn Flegler, CA’s head of performance and national selector.

“Kim Garth and Heather Graham have both put in strong performances at national level over the past 12 months and both have thoroughly earned their spot on the list.

“Phoebe Litchfield is a young talent who we believe has a bright future. She has built her game on a very solid technique and we are confident she can transfer those skills to international cricket.

“Although Tayla Vlaeminck has missed a huge amount of cricket, she remains on contract which allows us to continue to support her as she returns to the game after suffering a serious foot injury.”

Carey, who has been on CA’s contract list since 2018, turned down the contract offer after already turning down a chance to tour the UK with Australia’s senior team in June.

The all-rounder has been a staple of Australia squads since her debut in 2018 but only featured in a T20I on December’s India tour before carrying the drinks throughout January’s ODIs against Pakistan, and was subsequently out excluded from the T20 World Cup squad.

“We are on the verge of a busy 12 month period starting with several training camps next month in Brisbane ahead of a tour of the UK for Australia and the Australia A squad,” said Flegler.

“In light of this, Nicola Carey expressed a desire to spend the winter in Tasmania to allow her to take advantage of a full pre-season at home and focused on using that time to develop skills in her game to get into Pushing for international selection in the future.

“We have offered Nic a contract because we believe she is an international quality player but we respect her decision to focus on a preparatory program with Tasmania and will continue to support her as she progresses further.”

Players can be promoted to a central contract by being selected for the national team during the year, as Harris did in 2022-23. Players are upgraded when they earn 12 points, with female players receiving four points for a test match and two points each for an ODI and T20.

Women’s cricket was a big winner in the new MoU announced on Monday, with players being paid from a $133 million pool over the next five years, a huge jump from the $80 million currently available Dollar.

The top CA contract women’s earnings will peak in excess of $800,000 per year by the end of the LOI (including their WBBL contract, gaming fees and marketing payments) with potential for earnings reaching the million dollar mark to exceed when they also play in the Women’s Premier League and UK’s Hundred.

Under the new MOU, each state (and the ACT) will also offer two additional contract spots, up to 16 from the current 14.

Cricket Australia Women’s Contract List, 2023-24: Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham