Reigning Sheffield Shield champions the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers have elevated four rookies into an expanded squad of 31 players ahead of the 2016-17 season.
The squad of 31 is the largest announced in Victorian contracting history, helped by the fact that five players – Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle – are all on Cricket Australia contracts.
This has allowed an opportunity to dive deep into Victoria’s talent pool and name a squad full of young, emerging talent.
Recent signing Marcus Harris joins former rookies Jackson Coleman, Aaron Ayre, Sebastian Gotch, Matthew Short and Guy Walker who have all moved up to full contracts.
Victorian Chairman of Selectors Andrew Lynch said Harris will add to the young and exciting batting lineup spearheaded by Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis and Travis Dean.
Clint McKay has recently returned from Australian first-class cricket to concentrate on his Big Bash commitment with the Sydney Thunder and Leicestershire CCC in the English County system.
Ryan Sidebottom and Ben Ashkenazi have not been offered contracts for the 2016-17 season.
Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers 2016-17 playing list:
Fawad Ahmed
Aaron Ayre
Scott Boland
Daniel Christian
Jackson Coleman
Xavier Crone (Rookie contract)
Travis Dean
Aaron Finch (CA contract)
Sebastian Gotch
Sam Grimwade (Rookie contract)
Peter Handscomb
Sam Harper (Rookie contract)
Marcus Harris
John Hastings (CA contract)
Ian Holland
Jon Holland
Jackson Koop (Rookie contract)
Glenn Maxwell (CA contract)
James Muirhead
Tom O’Donnell (Rookie contract)
James Pattinson (CA contract)
Robert Quiney
Jake Reed
Matthew Short
Peter Siddle (CA contract)
Marcus Stoinis
Blake Thomson (Rookie contract)
Chris Tremain
Matthew Wade
Guy Walker
Cameron White
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