Ashes-bound Siddle cut from contract list

Fast bowler Peter Siddle has been cut from the Cricket Australia central contract list for 2015-16, but that did not prevent him earning selection for the winter Test tours to the Caribbean and UK.

Quick Single: Test squads named for winter Tours

CA's National Selection Panel named the 19 contracted players today in addition to the winter Test squads and Australia A squads to travel to India.

Quick Single: Khawaja, Cummins headline A squad

"Players were chosen based on their performances from July 2014 and the expectation that they will feature in the Australian Test, ODI and T20I sides during the forthcoming period," Cricket Australia's release said.

It would indicate that Siddle's selection in the Test squad has come due to an injury to fellow Victorian fast bowler James Pattinson, who was named on the contracted players list but picked up a left hamstring problem during the Bupa Sheffield Shield final that ruled him out of the Caribbean tour.

CA said Pattinson's recovery would be monitored and did not rule him out of being called up for the Ashes tour which follows the two-Test series against the West Indies.

"James’ injury is similar to the one he sustained during round eight of the Sheffield Shield. Scans confirmed that he has a moderate grade injury that will require intensive rehabilitation over the coming weeks," said CA Physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.

"Unfortunately, the rehabilitation time for that injury as well as the need to build his workloads means he will not be available for the tour of the West Indies. We will continue to monitor his progress to determine his availability for the rest of the winter.

Cricket Australia National Selector Rod Marsh said Siddle could fight his way back onto the contracted player list.

"Anything is possible once we get away," Marsh told reporters in Melbourne this morning.

"Remember blokes are going to the IPL as well, and Sidds is going to Lancashire (for county cricket during the winter). 

"By time first Test gets underway (in the West Indies) I'm not sure what the line-up will be, I'm not sure anyone is yet. Sidds could very easily jump back into a contract just through sheer weight of being chosen. It only takes a couple of Tests."

Fast bowler Patrick Cummins has been added to the contracted players list following his successful return to Australia's limited-overs teams during the summer. Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh had their contracts upgraded during the summer due to their appearances for the national team and have this year been included.

South Australian quick Kane Richardson was also upgraded during the 2014-15 year, but has not been included on the 2015-16 list. He was not included in the Australia A squad to visit India.

Cricket Australia contracted players
George Bailey, Michael Clarke , Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson.