NZC Player Contracts Announced

A career in South African cricket may be a bit further down the track for Central Districts batsman Mathew Sinclair after he was awarded an New Zealand Cricket contract today.

Sinclair’s name was among the 20 players announced as contracted for the next year until May 31, 2007.

Black Caps general manager Lindsay Crocker said the contracts were awarded to the players who would have the most playing value to the Black Caps over the next 12 months.

Particular emphasis had been placed on performance during the last 12 months, Crocker said.

And it was domestic form that helped Sinclair claw his way back into contention.

“Mathew Sinclair was last year asked by the selectors to go back to domestic cricket and prove himself”, Crocker said.

“He did that and is now seen as an international option, particularly as a Test player.”

However, today’s announcement may mark the end of international cricket for Chris Harris.

He, along with James Marshall, Daryl Tuffey, Craig McMillan and Paul Wiseman, have all missed out on contracts after being contracted for last season.

Harris appears to have done his dash as an international cricketer, although New Zealand Cricket have left the door ever so slightly ajar.

“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”, Crocker said.

“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.”

Tuffey and McMillan are still international options if form and injuries come right, Crocker said.

The exciting Andre Adams returns to the list after an absence of two years while four new players – Jamie How, Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor and Michael Mason – gain their first New Zealand Cricket central contracts.

“Andre Adams, Jamie How and Ross Taylor are all considered likely to play while Jeetan Patel and Peter Fulton have made solid progress as international players during the past year.”

The NZC-contracted players are:
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