Matt Renshaw and Matthew Wade will benefit when Australia releases new contracts list

Opener Matt Renshaw will be a big winner in a prospective contract list that will also deliver a million dollar pay rise to wicketkeeper Matt Wade. Renshaw was one of the surprise stories of the Australian summer, receiving a mid-summer promotion to Australia’s contract list on the way. Renshaw’s exploits, including his 232 runs at 29 in difficult conditions on the Indian tour, will see him being promoted to Australia’s annual list for the first time, reported Adelaide Now.

The list which consists of 17-20 men is usually released in the first week of April but continuing negotiations between the players and Cricket Australia over a new memorandum means it cannot be out until the new deal is official.

In order to decide the final list, the selectors rank players in both the formats of the game and combine their ratings. Renshaw may not get a rating in white ball cricket since he does not have a Big Bash contract, but CA see him as a long-term asset of their Test top order.

Wade for several years has not held a full-year contract but is set to be on Australia’s top 10 as the country’s Test and 50-over wicket-keeper.

Wade travelled to India knowing a poor tour may end his Test career but to everyone’s surprise he performed well with the bat and gloves. Australia’s contracted players averaged $1.16 million each from CA last year and the figure is set to rise under the new deal.

Wade, by getting a place in Top 10, is set to earn well over $1 million a year. At the start of this year, he did not even have a contract.

Steve Smith is set to be the No.1-ranked player once again, with David Warner, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, jostling for places behind him.