Cricket Australia's brutal move in national contract shake-up

Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade reportedly headlines a list of prominent players at risk of losing their Cricket Australia contracts.

Despite captaining the Australian T20 side as recently as five months ago, Wade is among a number of players rumoured to be on the outer as CA prepared to announce their list of contracted players for the 2021/2022 season.

'CARNAGE': Pat Cummins goes bonkers in crazy IPL blitz

'MANKAD THAT MAN': Cricket world split over divisive photo

Wade's disappointing Test form has done him no favours, with the Tasmanian failing to pass 50 in his previous 14 Test innings.

The 33-year-old is not alone in falling from CA's favour, with young gun Will Pucovski also a candidate to miss out on a contract thanks to continued injury woes.

Pucovski remains a preferred option for Test opener after scoring 50 in his Test debut against India and smashing consecutive Sheffield Shield double centuries last summer.

There is a squeeze on for places, with CA reportedly slimming the list down from 20 to 17 due to the ongoing financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Joe Burns is also believed to be at risk after his poor showing and subsequent axing at the Boxing Day Test.

Bad news for some is good news for others however, with all-rounder Cameron Green slated to be rewarded for his impressive form over the summer, while Marnus Labuschagne has been tipped for a payrise.

White-ball specialists could also be favoured this season, with the T20 World Cup and a white ball tour of the West Indies and Bangladesh on the horizon, as well as The Ashes and a Test series against Pakistan.

Warner wins in IPL at last, Cummins shines

David Warner's Sunrisers Hyderabad have finally earned their first points in this season's Indian Premier League by beating Punjab Kings by nine wickets in Chennai.

Another Australian Test star Pat Cummins was also in blistering form in the later IPL game in Mumbai on Wednesday but his superb hitting in an unbeaten 66 off 34 balls still saw Kolkata Knight Riders fall to an 18-run defeat to Chennai Super Kings.

Warner had captained his side to three straight defeats and was relieved to play a significant role with the bat in Hyderabad's comfortable victory with an over and two balls to spare.

Chasing only 121 to win after fine work by his bowlers, Warner helped his English opening colleague Jonny Bairstow in a 73-run opening stand which broke the back of the pursuit.

Punjab had folded for 120 in 19.4 overs after captain Lokesh Rahul won the toss and elected to bat.

"It was very pleasing," said Warner. "The bowlers did a fantastic job to reduce them."

Bairstow's unbeaten 63 off 56 balls ensured Hyderabad didn't face another run-chasing hiccup as they ended up cruising to 1-121 in 18.4 overs.

In Mumbai, Cummins, batting at No.8, produced some great hitting before Kolkata were bowled out for 202 with five balls to spare in a high-scoring thriller.

Chennai had posted an imposing 3-220 with Faf du Plessis smashing 95 not out off 60 balls and Ruturaj Gaikwad (64) making his first half-century this season.

Fast bowler Deepak Chahar's second four-wicket haul in three games then left Kolkata reeling at 5-31 inside the batting powerplay before Andre Russell (54) and Cummins led a stunning run-chase.

Paceman Cummins, who returned expensive figures of 0-58, then gave Kolkata a sniff with the bat when he hit four sixes and a four off Sam Curran's 16th over.

With AAP

Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.