9 Jul 2013

Major central contracts reshuffle for NZ Cricket

6:11 am on 9 July 2013

There's been a major clean-out of New Zealand Cricket's contracted players for the next year, with almost half of those contracted last year cut.

There are nine changes with six players, Corey Anderson, Tom Latham, Bruce Martin, Mitchell McClenaghan, Colin Munro and Hamish Rutherford receiving contracts for the first time.

Wellington's Grant Elliott regains a contract after missing out for the past two years, while Peter Fulton is back after last having one four years ago.

Pace bowler Neil Wagner retains his contract after replacing Jacob Oram partway through the last year.

Players included in last year's list who aren't contracted this time include Andrew Ellis, Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Chris Martin, Tarun Nethula, Rob Nicol, Kruger van Wyk and Jacob Oram.

Daniel Vettori also comes off the list, after deciding to make himself unavailable last week.

The Black Caps have series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Indies, India and the ICC World Twenty20 tournament over the next year.

The full list of contracted players is:

Corey Anderson - Northern Knights

Trent Boult - Northern Knights

Doug Bracewell - Central Stags

Dean Brownlie - Canterbury Wizards

Grant Elliott - Wellington Firebirds

Peter Fulton - Canterbury Wizards

Martin Guptill - Auckland Aces

Tom Latham - Canterbury Wizards

Bruce Martin - Auckland Aces

Mitchell McClenaghan - Auckland Aces

Brendon McCullum - Otago Volts

Nathan McCullum - Otago Volts

Kyle Mills - Auckland Aces

Colin Munro - Auckland Aces

Hamish Rutherford - Otago Volts

Tim Southee - Northern Knights

Ross Taylor - Central Stags

Neil Wagner - Otago Volts

BJ Watling - Northern Knights

Kane Williamson - Northern Knights