Reports of Peter Siddle's Test career nearing its end seem to have been greatly exaggerated.
Injured paceman Siddle was rewarded with a Cricket Australia contract on Friday, confirming selectors still believe the veteran has a bright future.
Siddle, Nathan Coulter-Nile and John Hastings were promoted to the 20-man contract list, with Test regulars Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns, Adam Voges and Peter Nevill also added.
Matthew Wade, who kept wickets in 17 international fixtures since the last contracts were announced, and legspinner Adam Zampa were overlooked.
Players are picked on their performances over the past year plus expectations of how much they will feature in the forthcoming year.
Siddle was overlooked for a 2015-16 contract and feared his international career was over after staying on the sidelines for the majority of last year's Ashes.
The right-armer, who is currently recovering from ankle surgery and stress fractures in his back, returned in the Ashes dead rubber at The Oval.
He continued to be shuffled in and out of the Test XI because of injury setbacks and the form of Australia's young pacemen.
But chairman of selectors Rod Marsh has given the greatest indication yet that the 31-year-old is still part of his panel's plans for the future.
There were plenty of vacancies up for grabs after a year of transition in Australian cricket.
Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers have all stepped away from international cricket over the past year.
"Following a number of high-profile retirements, we believe this group of players gives us a healthy blend of youth and experience to represent Australia at the highest level," Marsh said.
"There is a lot of talent within this group and we have confidence that the players chosen can be successful in all three forms of the game, against a range of opposition, in a variety of conditions."
Australia's next assignment is a Caribbean ODI tri-series in June that features West Indies and South Africa.
CA 2016-17 contract list: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, George Bailey, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges.
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