Maxwell and Short both lost their CA contracts last month with Maxwell now a one-format player in a contract year when Australia will only play five T20Is while Short lost his place after being left out of the T20 World Cup squad and being on the fringe of Australia first-choice ODI side in recent times.
Players coming off CA contracts usually go back onto state lists but there has been an increasing trend of more senior white-ball players who play franchise cricket overseas opting not to take state deals in order to free up their playing schedules while still making themselves available to play state cricket when they don’t have franchise commitments.
Maxwell, who turns 38 in October, has no reason to take a state contract given he is notionally only a T20 player now. However, ESPNCricinfo understands he has had an informal discussion with Victoria about playing 50-over One-Day Cup matches when available, if he is required, despite having retired from ODI cricket after the 2025 Champions Trophy. Maxwell played two One-Day Cup matches for Victoria in September last year, six months after his ODI retirement. He scored his first List A century for Victoria in one of them against Queensland. The matches were used as Maxwell’s preparation for a T20I tour of New Zealand. Maxwell remains keen to keep playing T20I cricket although he will be 39 by the time of the LA Olympics and 40 at the start of the 2028 T20 World Cup.
Short, 30, played four Sheffield Shield matches and five One-Day Cup games for Victoria last summer but missed the Shield final because of his IPL contract with Chennai Super Kings. He moved to Queensland with his young family last year but Victoria were pleased with his commitment to playing and training with them throughout the summer despite commuting interstate. Short will continue to be available for Victoria for both formats next summer however with the ILT20 moving to November prior to the BBL, his decision not to take a state deal means he won’t need an NOC to play in the UAE while Shield cricket is taking place.
Victoria had few surprises on their contract list for 2026-27 after re-signing young guns Fergus O’Neill and Campbell Kellaway during the season. Fast bowler Xavier Crone and left-arm wrist spinner Callum Stow lost their contracts but will remain connected to the Victoria program. Wicketkeeper Jai Lemire has moved interstate for further opportunity.
Australian Under-19 representatives Tom Paddington and Aryan Sharma have been added to the rookie list.
Victorian Men’s Squad 2026-27: Austin Anlezark, Liam Blackford, Scott Boland (CA), Dylan Brasher, Ashley Chandrasinghe, Harry Dixon, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Cam McClure, David Moody, Todd Murphy (CA), Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Mitch Perry, Tyler Pearson, Tom Rogers, Will Sutherland, Doug Warren, Harry Hoekstra (R), Tom Paddington (R), Aryan Sharma (R)
