Four high-profile West Australian cricketers have forgone state contracts to become freelance guns-for-hire, allowing them to pursue opportunities with overseas T20 franchises during the Australian summer.

Ashton Agar, Marcus Stoinis, Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye, who have collectively represented Australia on 271 occasions, did not feature on Western Australia’s 30-player contract list for 2024/25 summer that was unveiled on Saturday morning.

The quartet now have the flexibility to compete in overseas T20 leagues next summer, such as SA20, ILT20, BPL and PSL, rather than remain in Australia for Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup commitments.

Agar, Behrendorff and Tye, who can still represent Western Australia when available, will continue to be involved in the WA Cricket program and remain eligible for state contracts if selected for at least four Marsh Cup games.

Meanwhile, Stoinis can now commit to playing for the Lucknow Super Giants’ various teams around the world, potentially on a 12-month deal, while also representing the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.

It comes after all-rounder Daniel Sams and bowler Kane Richardson declined contracts from their respective states last summer, highlighting how the Australian cricket landscape has been shifting over the past 24 months.

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Agar’s decision to pursue the freelance route feels particularly significant considering he’s yet to celebrate his 31st birthday. The left-armed spinner, who lost his national contract in March, was a member of Australia’s Test squad during last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, while he’s a decent chance of featuring in the upcoming T20 World Cup campaign in the West Indies and United States.

Having been leapfrogged by West Australian teammate Corey Rocchiccioli during the recent home summer, Agar only played three Marsh Cup games and no Sheffield Shield cricket following the Big Bash League’s conclusion in late January.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfothis week, Agar explained that he’d get more cricket under his belt as a T20 gun-for-hire, which allows him to participate in franchise leagues rather than toiling away at grade and second XI level.

“As someone with aspirations to play at the highest level, which is international cricket, for as long as possible, playing cricket as much as you can is the only thing that gets you there,” Agar told the publication.

“Playing for Australia doesn’t mean you have to have a state contract at that time. You just need to be putting your best foot forward for whichever team you’re playing for.”

Tim David, who has never played first-class cricket, has shown that players without a state contract can still be considered for Australian selection, while David Warner and Matthew Wade are expected to feature in this year’s T20 World Cup despite recently retiring from the other formats.

Meanwhile, Western Australia has added former New South Wales wicketkeeper Baxter Holt and Victorian bowler Brody Couch to its squad ahead of the 2024/25 season, where they will hope to win a record fourth consecutive Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup title.

“We’re very happy with the balance of our list, and we believe we’re well placed to continue the incredible run of success we’ve enjoyed in recent years,” Kade Harvey, WA Cricket’s General Manager of High Performance Cricket & Elite Teams, said in a statement.

“Securing another wicketkeeper was a priority with Josh Philippe leaving for New South Wales. We think Baxter has lots of potential with the bat and gloves, so we’re excited to see how he goes when an opportunity presents.

“Brody generates good pace and bounce and loves the contest. We really like his raw attributes, which should be well suited to the conditions in WA.”

WESTERN AUSTRALIA MEN’S 2024/25 CONTRACT LIST

National contracts

Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson

Full contracts

Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Keaton Critchell, Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Liam Haskett, Baxter Holt, Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Hamish McKenzie, Joel Paris, Corey Rocchiccioli, D’Arcy Short, Charlie Stobo, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman, Teague Wyllie

Rookie contracts

Mahli Beardman, Sam Greer, Josh Vernon, Corey Wasley

Ins

Brody Couch, Keaton Critchell, Baxter Holt, Corey Wasley

Outs

Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Philippe (NSW), Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye