Cricket Australia Includes Usman Khawaja Among New Players With Contract

Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges and Joe Burns are among those on the list of Cricket Australia's (CA) contracted players for 2016-17 after a number of key retirements. (Warne Slams Australian Selectors For Team's Debacle)

CA released the list of 20 players based on performances since last July. (India Knock Out Australia to qualify For World T20 Semi-Final)

Khawaja was recovering from a left knee reconstruction at this time last year, but the opener has since become one of the form players in the world, scoring centuries in four consecutive Tests and two hundreds in Twenty20 matches.

Nathan Coulter-Nile, John Hastings, Peter Nevill and Peter Siddle have also earned contracts after being left out last year.

There were a number of positions available this year following the retirements of ex-captain Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Chris Rogers and Shane Watson over the past 12 months.

The minimum value of a CA contract for the 2016-17 season is 270,000 Australian dollars ($353,000).

"There is a lot of talent within this group and we have confidence that the players chosen can be successful in all three forms of the game, against a range of opposition, in a variety of conditions," national selector Rod Marsh said.

Australian contracted players: George Bailey, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Adam Voges, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.