New Zealand Cricket announces contracted players for 2012-13

New Zealand Cricket today announced the twenty players to be offered BLACKCAPS contracts for the year 1 August 2012 to 31 July 2013.

Trent Boult – Northern Knights
Doug Bracewell – Central Stags
Dean Brownlie – Canterbury Wizards
Andrew Ellis – Canterbury Wizards
Daniel Flynn – Northern Knights
James Franklin – Wellington Firebirds
Martin Guptill – Auckland Aces
Chris Martin – Auckland Aces
Brendon McCullum – Otago Volts
Nathan McCullum – Otago Volts
Kyle Mills – Auckland Aces
Tarun Nethula – Central Stags
Rob Nicol – Canterbury Wizards
Jacob Oram – Central Stags
Tim Southee – Northern Knights
Ross Taylor – Central Stags
Kruger van Wyk – Central Stags
Daniel Vettori – Northern Knights
BJ Watling – Northern Knights
Kane Williamson – Northern Knights

Dean Brownlie, Doug Bracewell, Andrew Ellis, Tarun Nethula and Kruger van Wyk are offered contracts for the first time this year.  James Franklin regains a central contract after missing out last year.

Players included in 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 ODIs 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 BLACKCAPS 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 BLACKCAPS this coming year.

“It’s an exciting time for the BLACKCAPS 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 22 July 2012.