Cricket: Williamson in line for first contract

Kane Williamson may have to wait for his first New Zealand Cricket contract until after the Sri Lanka tour. Photo / Joel Ford

Kane Williamson is set to earn his first New Zealand Cricket contract and Scott Styris is ready to come back into the fold - but they'll both have to wait.

New Zealand's top cricketers are cooling their heels until a new Collective Agreement deal has been reached to find out if they've been awarded one of 20 central contracts.

New Zealand played its last meaningful game two months ago and, as a trip to Sri Lanka is imminent, NZC contracts should have been signed, sealed and delivered by now.

However, negotiations between the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association and NZC could stretch past July 31, the date players come off contract.

"We're still in negotiations with New Zealand Cricket and the major associations for a new collective contract," said head of the players' association Heath Mills.

"Those negotiations are going well but we're not quite there yet."

That could see those selected for the Sri Lankan tour next month travelling under a casual or temporary contract.

"We're working through that at the moment, but our priority remains to get a good and fair Collective Agreement," Mills said.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan outlined two contracting options for the Sri Lanka tour, should negotiations drag on past the point where the team was named (New Zealand's first game is August 10 in the one-day tri-series also involving India).

NZC could extend the current contracts by a month, or put the selected squad on an interim contract.

"We can't send guys away with nothing in place," Vaughan said. "But everyone is comfortable with where we're heading. It's not going to stop the plane taking off."

It's expected there will be a significant turnover from the 20 contracted for the 2009-10 year.

From that group, Shane Bond and Iain O'Brien have retired while Daniel Flynn, Neil Broom, James Franklin, Ian Butler and even test stalwart Chris Martin will all be under pressure to hold their retainers.

Williamson, the talented Northern Districts batsman who was brought into the squad ahead of the second test against Australia in March before being named 12th man, is a certainty for his first contract.

He got off to a slow start last season but ended up scoring 614 first-class runs with two centuries and an average of 47.2. In one-day cricket he was even more impressive, passing 50 seven times in 11 innings, including two centuries, and averaging 77.6.

Styris missed a contract last year but has regained his vital status in New Zealand's one-day and Twenty20 teams.

Also pressing for places are Nathan McCullum, Andy McKay and BJ Watling.

LAST YEAR'S CONTRACTED PLAYERS
Brent Arnel, Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, James Franklin, Daniel Flynn, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien (replaced by Daryl Tuffey), Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori.