Rachael Haynes is the sole omission from Cricket Australia’s (CA) contracts for the Southern Stars’ coming season.
Haynes, the left-handed NSW batter, topped Australia’s batting average at the 2013 World Cup and was named player of the domestic final, taking 3-20 and scoring the winning runs with 33 not out.
But selectors could find no place for her among 15 players to receive 2014/15 playing contracts.
Women’s national selection committee chairwoman Julie Savage said Haynes had “not reached the heights she is capable of”.
“As she is a very determined and talented cricketer, we are confident we will see more of her on the international stage in future,” Savage said.
Haynes did not feature in Australia’s successful 2014 World Twenty20 tournament and failed to score prolifically during the domestic summer.
Senior players Jodie Fields, Meg Lanning and multi-code star Ellyse Perry feature on the list, with each contract worth between $25,850 and $54,600.
All 15 players already hold CA contracts after Nicole Bolton and Rene Farrell were upgraded to the 2013/14 group.
Lanning, who captained Australia to the World Twenty20 win, said the growing value of the contracts helped grow the women’s game.
“We were on five to 15 thousand a couple a of years ago so the jump’s been big,” he said.
“It’s a good reward for time and effort put in – we’ve had a fair amount of success over the last two years.”
The 22-year-old Victorian is heading to London next week after being called up alongside Perry for a Rest of the World XI to play against the MCC at Lord’s.
Then it’s back to her health sciences degree before Australia’s next two engagements: home series against Pakistan and West Indies.
“It’ll be interesting playing against them. We only play them in World Cups. I’m sure August will come along very quickly.”
Contracted players: Alex Blackwell (NSW, 30 years old), Nicole Bolton (WA, 25), Jess Cameron (Vic, 24), Sarah Coyte (NSW, 23), Rene Farrell (ACT, 27), Holly Ferling (Qld, 18), Jodie Fields (Qld, 29), Alyssa Healy (NSW, 24), Julie Hunter (Vic, 30), Jess Jonassen ((Qld, 21), Meg Lanning (Vic, 22), Erin Osborne (NSW, 24), Ellyse Perry (NSW, 23), Megan Schtt (SA, 21), Elyse Villani (Vic, 24).