Hauritz loses Queensland contract

Former Test offspinner Nathan Hauritz faces an uncertain cricket future after losing his Queensland contract. Hauritz was one of four players cut by Queensland from last year's contract list, along with fast bowler Matthew Gale and top-order batsmen Alex Kemp and Greg Moller, while Luke Pomersbach had already announced he would cut ties with the Bulls to concentrate on his health.

Fast bowler Mark Steketee has earned his first state contract, while three of last year's Queensland rookies - Nick Buchanan, Nick Stevens and James Peirson - have been upgraded to full deals. Allrounders Jack Wildermuth and James Bazley, batsman Matthew Renshaw and fast bowler Billy Stanlake have joined the rookie list for the 2014-15 season.

The absence of Hauritz comes after a season in which he managed only three Sheffield Shield appearances for 10 wickets at 52.90, while the young legspinner Cameron Boyce played nine games for 26 victims. However, Hauritz had been a valuable member of Queensland's Ryobi Cup-winning side last summer and picked up nine wickets at 25.88.

Queensland selector Trevor Hohns said that Hauritz, who played the last of his 17 Tests nearly four years ago, would remain in contention through club cricket. "Nathan had his season curtailed by injury, and during that time Cam Boyce made some strong inroads as our first choice spinner," Hohns said.

"The National Selection Panel has shown their interest in progressing Cam's career with his selection in the Australia A squad for later in the year and as a young wrist-spinner, we're obviously keen to continue to provide him with further opportunities to develop. In saying that, Nathan will certainly be in contention to be selected from outside the squad for the coming season, like any other player in the Premier Grade competition, based on their performances."

The bulk of the Queensland squad has been retained from last year, with young batsmen Usman Khawaja and Peter Forrest among 11 players who have signed multi-year deals.

"It is a very exciting crop of players that have emerged over the past few seasons and we believe they have the potential to go far in the game," Hohns said. "But developing home grown talent is one aspect of our charter - the other is to get players into the national line-up and that is an area that the coaching staff and selectors are continuing to work hard at achieving success."

Queensland squad Cameron Boyce, Nick Buchanan, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Luke Feldman, Jason Floros, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Ryan Harris (Cricket Australia contract), Chris Hartley, James Hopes, Usman Khawaja, Chris Lynn, Alister McDermott, Michael Neser, James Peirson, Nathan Reardon, Mark Steketee, Nick Stevens. Rookies James Bazley, Ben McDermott, Ronan McDonald, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Jack Wildermuth.