KEY POINTS:
The rejuvenation of the New Zealand cricket squad continued apace today with four players gaining national contracts for the first time.
With Daniel Flynn, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder and Tim Southee added, the Black Caps' list of 20 contracted players announced by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) today took on a fresh new look.
Their inclusion was expected, as all have been picked for the tour of England beginning next month.
NZC have taken a punt on big-hitting Ryder, 23, who made his limited-overs international debut against England this year, averaging 49 in five matches.
The burly 23-year-old's promising career was soured after he punched a bar window in a late-night outing prior to the test series.
He damaged his hand which will need several months to heal and it is hoped he will be fit to play a part in the one-day programme in England.
Southee, 19, burst onto the test scene when he took a five-wicket bag and scored an unbeaten 77 on debut in the third test against England in Napier last month.
Redmond's promotion completed an eventful fortnight for the Otago opening batsman, the bolter for the England tour.
Flynn, 22, who made his one-day international (ODI) debut in February, was rewarded for a domestic season that brought 663 first-class runs at an average of 60.27.
Northern Districts captain James Marshall is back on the payroll after two years, thanks to a strong State Championship campaign in which he made 616 runs at an average of 51.33 runs.
Off the payroll were top order batsmen Craig Cumming, Mathew Sinclair, Michael Papps and Matthew Bell.
Wellington allrounder Grant Elliott also missed out , after failing to impress in his debut test in Napier.
Former captain Stephen Fleming did not figure as he has retired and is playing out his autumn years in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic one-dayers for Wellington.
After a year of transitions beginning after the World Cup in the Caribbean, the squad has been re-sculpted following the exits of Shane Bond, Craig McMillan and Lou Vincent, who now play in the Indian Cricket League, a rival Twenty20 competition to the IPL.
National team general manager Lindsay Crocker offered some consolation to those without contracts, although in the case of Sinclair and Bell, the curtain may have been pulled down on their international careers.
"Players who have missed out on contracts can play their way into the Black Caps through domestic performances and can expect to pick up major association contracts," he said.
Contracts had been awarded to the 20 players who have the greatest likely future value to the Black Caps in the next year, he said.
The contracts have a tiered pay scale but NZC does not make that information available.
"Twenty-five players are ranked by the selectors against set criteria in respect of test cricket and 25 players are ranked by the selectors against set criteria in respect of ODI cricket.
"There is a weighting of 1.25 for test rankings and 1.00 for ODI rankings. The 20 players with the highest aggregate score are then offered NZC contracts."
NZC contracted players: Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, James Marshall, Chris Martin, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori
- NZPA
