Redbacks axe Cosgrove, Cooper

UPDATE: South Australia have confirmed the axing of experienced batsmen Mark Cosgrove and Tom Cooper for the 2016-17 season.

The duo join injury-hit paceman Gary Putland and rookie contracted player Nick Winter in missing out on the contract list, with Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald, Patrick Page and Tom Andrews earning senior contracts.

"It's never easy to see experienced players go, especially when they have been an important part of the team for such a long time, but we’re confident we still have a good balance of youth and experience in our side," said SACA General Manager of High Performance Tim Nielsen.

"We have no doubt that all of the players who missed out on a contract will still be in selection plans if they are performing for their respective Premier Cricket clubs.

"We’re really excited to have Alex, Jake, Tom and Patrick in our senior squad after some outstanding efforts from them this year.

"Their inclusion into the squad is another example of the successful pathways implemented in South Australian cricket, as well as the exciting talent pool we have in this state at the moment and we’re confident they’ll have long futures with the Redbacks moving forward."

SOUTH AUSTRALIA SQUAD 2016-17
Travis Head (c), Tom Andrews, Nick Benton, Alex Carey, Callum Ferguson, Jake Lehmann, Tim Ludeman, Joe Mennie, Patrick Page, Sam Raphael, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, Kelvin Smith, Jake Weatherald, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa 

ROOKIES
Wes Agar, John Dalton, David Grant, Alex Gregory, Harry Nielsen, Cameron Valente

EARLIER: South Australia are set to announce the dumping of experienced batsmen Mark Cosgrove and Tom Cooper from their contract list for next season, according to a News Ltd report.

News Ltd says Cosgrove (31) and Cooper (29) will not be offered new contracts, with the Redbacks putting faith in young batsmen like Jake Weatherald and Kelvin Smith.

The 2015-16 Matador BBQs One-Day Cup and Sheffield Shield finalists are also reportedly set to retain wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Ludeman, who was dropped late in the season for the highly-rated Alex Carey, while injury-hit left-arm quick Gary Putland will also not get a new deal.

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The absence of Cooper and Callum Ferguson for the second half of the 2015-16 season - Cooper was dropped while Ferguson suffered a serious knee injury - allowed the likes of Weatherald, Sam Raphael, Alex Ross and Jake Lehmann an extended run in the senior side.

And the next generation all impressed; Weatherald posted twin half-centuries in the Shield final against Victoria, Lehmann notched three centuries in a breakout season, Ross managed six half-centuries for the season and Raphael also showed some promise.

Along with the expected promotion of highly-rated Australia U-19 batsman Patrick Page, it seems Cosgrove and Cooper were considered surplus to requirements.

Cosgrove, who played three one-day internationals for Australia a decade ago, has more than 11,000 first-class runs to his name having enjoyed success in both Australian and English domestic cricket.

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But he wasn't at his best last summer, making several starts but finishing the Shield season with 565 runs at 27. He will look to return to form for Leicestershire during this English county season.

The immediate future of Cooper, the Netherlands representative who averaged 18 from seven Shield matches before he was dropped in February, is unclear. But with eight years of domestic experience to his name, he could make a welcome addition to another state side.

Meanwhile, The West Australian is reporting fast-bowler Ryan Duffield is set to be handed a new contract by Western Australia, who lost quicks Mitchell Johnson, Michael Hogan and Matt Dixon following the 2015-16 season.

Duffield, who boasts and impressive record of 69 wickets from 18 first-class matches, will return to WA's list while young batsman Tom Beaton is reportedly set to follow Warriors teammate Marcus Harris to Melbourne.