New Zealand Cricket (NZC), on Thursday (June 8), announced the names the players who have been awarded the Central Contracts for the 2023-24 season.
In a major development, fast-bowler Adam Milne has been awarded the NZC central contract for the first time in 5 years. The fast-bowler has earned the contract after impressing for New Zealand in recent months. In the past international season, the right-arm pacer represented New Zealand in 16 games in the white-ball format and picked up 24 wickets including a 5-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in T20I.
Milne, who made his international debut in 2010, was also part of New Zealand’s last two ICC T20 World Cup campaigns. The bowler is more than likely to make it to the Black Caps’ squad for the forthcoming edition of the ICC World Cup scheduled to be played in India later this year.
“Adam’s worked exceptionally hard and has shown good resilience over the past few years to be in a position to earn this contract offer,” said Black Caps head coach Gary Stead.
“He’s always been a top-class bowler and we were impressed by his consistent contributions in the recent home summer and tour of Pakistan.”
New Zealand central contracts 2023-24 season:
Talking about notable absentees, fast-bowler Trent Boult along with opener Martin Guptill and allrounder Colin de Grandhomme continue to be without the New Zealand central contracts. All of them had previously requested NZC to be released from central contracts in order to make themselves more for franchise cricket across the world.
Later, NZC said that Boult has committed to being available for the Black Caps for part of the playing programme. As a result, the star bowler has been offered a casual playing agreement. The left-arm pacer l0oks set to play in this year’s World Cup in India.
Another notable absentee in New Zealand Central contract list is spinner Ajaz Patel. Just two years after becoming only the third bowler to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings, the left-spinner finds himself without a central contract. After the incredible feat against India in 2021, he played just 2 Tests in 2022 and did not play a single white-ball game for the Black Caps.
New Zealand central contracts for 2023-24:
Finn Allen, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young