Cricket: Johnson gets Australian contract

Naming 17 players ensures a tighter alignment between current performance, recognition and reward, said chief selector

SYDNEY: Fast-bowler Mitchell Johnson was one of 17 players awarded a Cricket Australia (CA) contract, but Test opener Ed Cowan missed out. The CA sliced its centrally contracted players list from 25 to 17 under a new agreement with the players’ union, but with the ability to upgrade others if their performance warranted. Australia’s selectors said the contracts were awarded on the form over the past year; likelihood of being selected for Australia in any form of the game during the next year and the weighting of the different formats. “Naming just 17 players initially, with the ability to upgrade others, as and when performance warrants, ensures a tighter alignment between current performance, recognition and reward,” said chief selector John Inverarity.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2012.