Under International Cricket Council regulations, Australia will be able to name a squad of no more than 15 for the World Test Championship final, but extra players will be on hand for at least the first two Ashes Tests. A number of hopefuls will also be playing county cricket.

Bailey made that point that the contract list covered all three formats, not just Test cricket, with Warner in the frame for the 50-over World Cup in India this October and November, and the Twenty20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies next year.

With Warner and his Test opening partner Usman Khawaja both 36, Bailey suggested that Harris, Renshaw and Bancroft may all be needed in the not too distant future.

“There’s no doubt, and not being rude towards Usman or Dave, those two are probably closer to the end than the start of their careers, so we’re going to need some depth,” Bailey said. “We’re going to need all three of those guys performing really well for us, and hopefully, they make our decisions incredibly challenging over the next little while.”

Harris has been a regular reserve opening batsman for Australia, playing 14 Tests in more than four years at an average of 25 without a century. He was dropped for Usman Khawaja during the Ashes in Australia two summers ago.

Renshaw toured India last February and March ahead of Harris but hardly made a run and has been left off the contract list along with fellow India tourists Peter Handscomb and Mitchell Swepson.

Uncapped tearaway paceman Lance Morris and impressive young spinner Todd Murphy both received contracts for the first time, while Sean Abbott, Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser and Harris have regained contracts in a squad expanded from 20 to 24.

Richardson is recovering from a hamstring operation and will be available for the Ashes, with his return to the Australian side most likely through white-ball cricket.

Swepson was previously on the contract list because Australia had tours of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India over the past 12 months.

However, with Australia’s next Test tours to England and New Zealand over the next year, Bailey said it was likely Australia would play only one spinner, veteran Nathan Lyon.

The rapid development of Murphy, who had an excellent tour of India, has also pushed Swepson further down the pecking order of spinners.

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