Cricket: Five new names on NZC contract list

Doug Bracewell. Photo / Getty Images

Dean Brownlie, Doug Bracewell, Andrew Ellis, Tarun Nethula and Kruger van Wyk have been offered central contracts by new Zealand Cricket for the first time this year.

NZC today announced the 20 players offered a contract for the year from August 1.

Wellington all-rounder James Franklin has regained a central contract after missing out last year but test paceman Mark Gillespie is a notable omission.

Players from last year's list who are not contracted for 2012-13 include Hamish Bennett, Neil Broom, Andy McKay, Jesse Ryder, Luke Woodcock and Reece Young.

A set criteria is used to rank players across all three forms of the game with test cricket receiving twice the weighting of one-dayers and Twenty20 internationals; the players with the highest aggregate scores are then offered NZC contracts.

National selection manager, Kim Littlejohn, said the 20 contracted players are the cricketers likely to add the greatest value to the Black Caps in a challenging but exciting period for the side.

"We have five new contracted players and their addition reflects the strong performances they have put in over the past 12 months and the value they are expected to bring to the Black Caps this coming year.

"It's an exciting time for the Black Caps with a number of important series in the 2012-13 season including the ICC world Twenty20 tournament.

"We believe the contracted players will be integral to the success of the team in what will be a demanding period against highly ranked opposition.

"There were some difficult decisions and it's disappointing for the players who did not have their contracts renewed. We are confident they will continue to work hard and look to force their way into the team through performance."

The major association contracts will be announced on July 22.

Contract list: Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Andrew Ellis, Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Tarun Nethula, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kruger van Wyk, Daniel Vettori, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.