Pat Cummins still in the frame

Young paceman Pat Cummins remains prominent in Australia's long-term planning, according to Cricket Australia's head selector, despite being dropped from the list of centrally contracted players.

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Cummins is in a group of players that has dropped out of CA's contracted list when the 2014-15 contracts were announced today.

Test No.3 batsman Alex Doolan and allrounder Nathan Coulter-Nile head the players who did not have their contracts renewed.

Cummins had been on the list despite having played little cricket as he battled back problems. There is much expectation about what the tall NSW fast bowler might achieve once fully fit.

National Selection Panel chairman John Inverarity said he now felt Cummins was old enough to be managed at state level until he is ready for a national recall.

"He's an `older' young man now and we have full confidence in NSW to manage him," Inverarity said.

"Pat (has been) working with various people, including Dennis Lillee, over the last year or so.

"He's now more independent than he was.

"We supported him there for a couple of years, but we couldn't justify including him in this contract list."

Inverarity said Cummins looked fit and bowled at a good pace when he played in the KFC T20 Big Bash League final.

He also said Phil Hughes and Shaun Marsh were on the new contracts list ahead of Doolan because the pair played international one-dayers.

Each player is ranked according to his Test, one-day and Twenty20 form over the last year, along with expectations of what he will achieve in the next 12 months.

"It's all three formats and Alex wouldn't have had any points other than Tests," Inverarity said.

"Alex is very highly regarded by the national selection panel. Two months ago he hadn't represented Australia, so it's very early days for him.

"He's received a great deal of encouragement and opportunity there."

Inverarity backed the contract formula and added he had spoken to numerous players who were on the cusp of joining the list.

He made a point of singling out Doolan and Coulter-Nile as being on the verge of receiving contracts.

"It's a perfectly good formula and we apply that rigorously," he said.