Konstas’ omission from the contracted players list worked in favour of incumbent Test opener Jake Weatherald, with the left-hander promoted to the 21-member group following mixed results across the recent Ashes series when he scored 201 runs at an average of 22.33.
Bailey suggested while Weatherald was likely to retain his role as Australia’s first-choice opener for their next Test assignment at home against Bangladesh, he said his spot in the top-order was not certain.
“It’s an indication. It’s not a guarantee,” Bailey said of Weatherald winning a contract.
“I think he’s the incumbent in that role. He’s had a few good years of really consistent first-class cricket as well. Not shying away from, I think there was a real plan and a target from England around some of the technical aspects of his game.
“But we think he can play and I think he’s got a really good opportunity now. He’s going to get a Leicestershire for a little bit and then he’s got a good period of time bouncing out of that Ashes series.”
Cricket Australia men’s contracts for 2026-27: Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa
