SA add three new faces to contract list

The elevation of Travis Head and Adam Zampa to the Cricket Australia contract list has allowed South Australia to add three new faces to their list of contracted players for the 2017-18 season.

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Harry Nielsen, the son of SACA high performance general manager and former Australia coach Tim, joins opening batsman John Dalton and left-armer Nick Winter as the three new faces on the Redbacks' full list for the summer.

Experienced batsman Tom Cooper, who was not offered an initial deal at the start of last season but earned an upgrade during the summer, has also earned a full contract along with paceman David Grant and allrounder Cameron Valente.

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Wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Ludeman, opener Sam Raphael and rookies Wes Agar and Alex Gregory have lost their deals from last season.

"We are delighted with the promotion of both Head and Zampa to the CA contract list," Tim Nielsen said.

"This is a great reward for them individually, and the program as a whole.

"Additionally, this gives us the room to reward consistent performers in our List A and first-class teams, as well as continually promote and develop our best young talent in South Australia.

"Our Redbacks squad has a nice mix of established and developing players and we look forward to them all taking big steps forward in the 2017-18 season."

Seventeen-year-old leg-spinner Lloyd Pope and Daniel Drew, the winner of the SACA's grade cricket player of the season award last summer, are one of six rookie-contracted players.

The Redbacks made the final of the past two Sheffield Shield seasons thanks in large part to a strong pace attack of Chadd Sayers, Joe Mennie, Dan Worrall and Kane Richardson, who all return for this season.

Nielsen, 22, made headlines last year when he was asked to fill in as wicketkeeper for the touring South African side during their tour match at the Adelaide Oval. The youngster took the gloves and kept to a world-class bowling attack of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott.

Dalton forced his way into SA's Shield side last year and made scores of 40 and 71 on debut against Tasmania.

Winter, 24, played two one-day games for the Redbacks in 2014 and has returned to the contract list after a strong showing in second XI cricket last season.

IN: John Dalton, Harry Nielsen, Nick Winter

OUT: Tim Ludeman, Sam Raphael, Wes Agar, Alex Gregory

Cricket Australia contracted players: Travis Head, Adam Zampa

Full contracts: Tom Andrews, Nick Benton, Alex Carey, Tom Cooper, John Dalton, Callum Ferguson, David Grant, Jake Lehmann, Joe Mennie, Harry Nielsen, Patrick Page Jnr, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, Kelvin Smith, Cameron Valente, Jake Weatherald, Nick Winter, Daniel Worrall

Rookie contracts: Spencer Johnson, Lloyd Pope, Ben Pengelley, Michael Cormack, Jake Winter, Daniel Drew