Cricket: Provincial contracts released

File Photo / APN

New Zealand Cricket's major associations today unveiled the names of those players offered first round domestic contracts for the 2010-11 season.

The contracting process for domestic players involves two rounds for the first time.

Each of the six major associations can offer nine to 11 contracts at their discretion in the first round and then complete the process to their full contingent of 12 players with second round contracts being offered on August 24.

New Zealand Cricket hopes the introduction of a two-stage contracting process will ensure increased competition for the final contracts and help to ensure the best 92 players are contracted throughout the country.

The contracted list is notable for a number of players who have changed provinces in the off-season.

Among those changing teams are legspinner Tarun Nethula, who is shifting from Auckland to Central Districts, Auckland wicketkeeper Reece Young to Canterbury, Canterbury's South African pair Kruger van Wyk and Johann Myburgh to Central Districts and Auckland, respectively, Otago batsman Greg Todd to Auckland and Canterbury fast bowler Leighton Burtt to Wellington.

Among long-time contracted players to miss out is former New Zealand one-day wicketkeeper-batsman Chris Nevin, who has been replaced in the Wellington list by Joe Austin-Smellie.

Contracted list:-

Auckland: Michael Bates, Andrew de Boorder, Colin de Grandhomme, Roneel Hira, Anaru Kitchen, Johann Myburgh, Jimmy Neesham, Jeet Raval, Lance Shaw, Bhupinder Singh, Greg Todd.

Canterbury: Corey Anderson, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Dean Brownlie, Andrew Ellis, Peter Fulton, Rob Nicol, Michael Papps, Richard Sherlock, Shanan Stewart, Reece Young.

Central Districts: Doug Bracewell, Brendon Diamanti, Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Michael Mason, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tarun Nethula, Brad Patton, Mathew Sinclair, Kruger van Wyk, Tim Weston.

Northern Districts: Graeme Aldridge, Jono Boult, Trent Boult, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, James Marshall, Peter McGlashan, Michael Parlane, Bradley Scott, Brad Wilson, Joseph Yovich.

Wellington: Josh Brodie, Dewayne Bowden, Matthew Bell, Leighton Burtt, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Cameron Merchant, Neal Parlane, Joe Austin-Smellie, Luke Woodcock.

Otago: Nick Beard, Neil Broom, Anthony Bullick, Ian Butler, Craig Cumming, Derek De Boorder, Shaun Haig, Warren McSkimming, Aaron Redmond, Neil Wagner, Sam Wells.

- NZPA