Cricket Australia has revealed the 18 players among the 2026-27 national contract list f or women’s cricket. Talented young quicks Chloe Ainsworth and Lucy Hamilton have both been rewarded with their first national contracts after impressive seasons domestically
While Nicola Carey held on to her spot following a late upgrade on the West Indies tour. For now, the retirement of Alyssa Healy signals the end of an era, and Tayla Vlaeminck and Tess Flintoff were left out of last year’s squad.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is in England, with bilateral T20 series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and South Africa to follow, and this group inherits the unenviable challenge of maintaining Australia’s stranglehold on women’s cricket at the very top.
Australia Women’s Central Contracts 2026-27: Full List
| # | Player | State | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chloe Ainsworth | WA | Melville CC |
| 2 | Darcie Brown | SA | Northern Districts CC |
| 3 | Nicola Carey | TAS | North Hobart CC |
| 4 | Ashleigh Gardner | NSW | Bankstown CC |
| 5 | Kim Garth | VIC | Dandenong CC |
| 6 | Heather Graham | WA | Subiaco Floreat CC |
| 7 | Lucy Hamilton | QLD | Sunshine Coast CC |
| 8 | Grace Harris | QLD | Western Suburbs CC |
| 9 | Alana King | WA | Midland Guildford CC |
| 10 | Phoebe Litchfield | NSW | Sydney University CC |
| 11 | Tahlia McGrath | SA | Glenelg CC |
| 12 | Sophie Molineux | VIC | Dandenong CC |
| 13 | Beth Mooney | WA | Sandgate Redcliffe CC |
| 14 | Ellyse Perry | NSW | — |
| 15 | Megan Schutt | SA | Sturt CC |
| 16 | Annabel Sutherland | VIC | Prahran CC |
| 17 | Georgia Voll | QLD | Sandgate Redcliffe District CC |
| 18 | Georgia Wareham | VIC | Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies CC |
Key Changes From Last Season
Chloe Ainsworth and Lucy Hamilton are the two new additions to the contracts list. The pair of pacemen both made their way into the side off the back of strong domestic showings. Cricket Australia’s Head of Performance, Shawn Flegler, hailed their selection as “a reflection of the impact and talent they have shown at the domestic level.”
Nicola Carey kept her place after receiving a promotion on the recent tour of the West Indies by Australia. Her performances in the last two series at a high level rocketed her into the contracted set-up.
Notable Omissions
- Alyssa Healy: Retired from international cricket. The former captain and wicketkeeper’s exit brings to a close a golden age for Australian women’s cricket.
- Tayla Vlaeminck: Yet to be renewed at this stage but stays in the mix for selection. The quick’s recent availability has been restricted by injury trouble, however, she hasn’t ruled out a comeback.
- Tess Flintoff: Not renewed but Cricket Australia have stated they will be supporting her development regardless.
Flegler took the unusual step of commenting on the exclusions himself, saying “Tayla and Tess are on the outside looking in at this stage, but their development along their pathway is very much still continuing and both of them are very much still in contention for selection.”
How Contract Upgrades Work
Players not included in the initial 18 can still earn a central contract during the year through the upgrade points system.
| Match Type | Points Per Match |
|---|---|
| Test Match | 5 points |
| One Day International | 2 points |
| T20 International | 2 points |
| Upgrade Threshold | 12 points |
Once a player accumulates 12 upgrade points through international appearances, they earn a central contract. This system ensures that consistent performers are rewarded even if they miss the initial list.
Australia Women’s Upcoming Schedule 2026-27
Australia face a packed calendar over the next 12 months with a major ICC event and multiple bilateral series.
| Series | Opponent | Venue | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 | Group 1 (India, South Africa, Pakistan, Netherlands, Bangladesh) | England | T20I |
| Home Series | Bangladesh | Australia | ODI and T20I |
| Away Tour | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | White Ball |
| Away Tour | South Africa | South Africa | White Ball |
| Home Series | New Zealand | Australia | ODI and T20I (February 2027) |
Australia’s Current Form
Australia head to the new contract cycle in dominating shape, having whitewashed T20I and ODI series vs West Indies.
Georgia Voll replaced the retired Healy and shone bright opening the batting scoring 148 runs in 3 T20I matches. Voll’s stunning run of form saw her ascend to the top of the ICC Women’s T20I Batting Rankings.
Sophie Molineux captains the side into the Women’s T20 World Cup in England with six time champs Australia in Group 1 (India, South Africa, Pakistan, Netherlands, and Bangladesh
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Conclusion: Depth and Continuity Define Australia’s Contract List
The contract list for 2026-27 shows that Cricket Australia has followed through on the promise to grow dunker whilst keeping its dominant nucleus.
Ainsworth and Hamilton add seam strength and experience in the form of veterans Perry, Schutt and Gardner.
With a T20 World Cup in England and five bilateral series to come, this 18 player group has the talent and balance to take Australia in women’s cricket to new heights over the next 12 months.
