James Franklin missed out on a NZ Cricket contract. Photo / Getty Images
Reece Young, Rob Nicol, Trent Boult and Luke Woodcock have been included on the list of 20 players contracted by New Zealand Cricket for the first time, but there is no room for veterans James Franklin and Daryl Tuffey.
Tuffey and Franklin join Brent Arnel, Grant Elliott, Gareth Hopkins, Tim
McIntosh and Jeetan Patel as those contracted last year to miss out on the list announced today by acting national selection manager Mark Greatbatch.
Left-arm paceman Boult is rewarded for an impressive domestic season, while Nicol, who missed out on World Cup selection, won a spot after becoming domestic cricket's most valuable player last season.
Allrounder Woodcock went to the World Cup while Young takes over from Auckland captain Hopkins as the second wicketkeeper on the list.
Daniel Flynn and Neil Broom have returned to the list after missing out last year while Scott Styris, who has retired from international cricket, was not considered.
Franklin received an elevated contract in February along with paceman Hamish Bennett, but while Bennett has made the grade, Franklin has paid the price for a quiet World Cup.
"Seven changes to the contracted list highlights the fact that there are a number of quality cricketers contesting for the top 20 contracts. That kind of competitiveness is good for our cricket," said Greatbatch.
"There is a good mix of experienced players and promising talent in a list that recognises strong domestic performances as well as good international form."
He said players who missed out on a central contract were likely to pick up contracts with the major associations and said the re-contracting of Flynn and Broom showed the door was not closed to players forcing their way back on the list.
"As always, there were some tough decisions and some players with decent international records have missed out.
"Those players can play their way back into the reckoning by performing at domestic level," he said.
- NZPA
