New Zealand Cricket has announced the list of players who have been offered NZC contracts for the 2006/07 contract year (June 1 2006 - May 31 2007).
BLACKCAPS general manager Lindsay Crocker said the contracts were awarded to the players likely to have the most playing value to the BLACKCAPS over the next 12 months with particular emphasis placed on performance during the previous 12 months.
The players from last year’s list who have not been offered NZC contracts are Chris Cairns (retired), Craig Cumming, Chris Harris, James Marshall, Daryl Tuffey, Craig McMillan and Paul Wiseman.
The players who received contracts this year but were not on the list last year are Andre Adams (who returns to the list after an absence of two years), Mathew Sinclair (who returns to the list after an absence of one year), Jeetan Patel, Jamie How, Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor and Michael Mason.
“Mathew Sinclair was last year asked by the selectors to go back to domestic cricket and prove himself. He did that and is now seen as an international option, particularly as a Test player.
“Andre Adams, Jamie How and Ross Taylor are all considered likely to play a role in the BLACKCAPS in the coming year.
“Jeetan Patel and Peter Fulton have made solid progress as international players during the past year,” Mr Crocker said.
“The door is not closed on players who have not been offered contracts. Each year players from outside the list are selected for the BLACKCAPS, and players have an opportunity to force their way into the side through domestic cricket performances and through the international A programme which begins next month.
“Last year 26 players played for the BLACKCAPS and the year before 33 players played for the team.
“The players who missed out on contracts remain part of the wider BLACKCAPS environment and remain involved in BLACKCAPS fitness and coaching programmes.
“Craig McMillan was unlucky not to be offered an NZC contract, having missed out by a slender margin. He remains in contention for selection, particularly in the one-day game.
“Should his rehabilitation go to plan Daryl Tuffey could be available for international cricket consideration by December 2006. The selection panel felt he would need to perform well at domestic cricket before being in contention again for national selection.
“It is the selectors’ view that Chris Harris has been overtaken by other players in his role as a finisher with the bat in one-day games and as a slow bowler. Depending on how other players perform and injuries and how Chris performs, he may still come into contention should further slow bowling options be needed in this year’s international one-day competitions.
“The players who missed out on NZC contracts are likely to pick up Major Association contracts when they are announced on July 15.
“NZC and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association have significantly advanced their negotiation of the terms and conditions for a new four year player agreement. We are sufficiently confident of a successful conclusion to these negotiations that we have agreed to proceed in the interim as if the new agreement is fully agreed.
“No details of the new collective agreement will be announced until the negotiation is complete and the agreement has been signed.”
Players: Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Stephen Fleming, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Hamish Marshall, Chris Martin, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent
