Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne have reportedly signed three-year Cricket Australia contracts amid the threat of worldwide T20 franchises poaching elite players.
That is according to The Brisbane Times who are reporting six other players have also been offered two-year contracts.
Players handed contracts are reportedly seen as key figures in Australia’s national teams across each of the game’s formats.
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Cricket Australia have taken matters in to their own hands with multiple leagues across the world signing top talent, including in South Africa and the UAE.
Saudi Arabia could also be set to start their own competition, with T20 franchises across the globe stealing players from Australia’s Big Bash league.
Cummins and Labuschagne’s contracts were reportedly finalised after Cricket Australia finalised their central contracts list in April.
Both players will reportedly now remain with CA until at least the end of the Ashes summer in 2025/26, with coach Andrew McDonald’s contract also expiring at the same time.
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Travis Head, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Alex Carey and Josh Hazlewood were reportedly among the players who signed two-year contracts.
Meanwhile, veterans Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja were handed one-year contracts.
Cricket Australia chief executive made it clear the organisation are aware of the increase in competition for elite players in April.
“There is a war for talent out there,” he said when the central contracts were announced.
Multi-year contracts are a rare for players, with only superstars such as Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee handed them in the past.
Central contracts were first introduced by Cricket Australia in the summer of 1986/87.