Cricket: Franklin picks up contract

James Franklin has been playing almost non-stop since June. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Wellington paceman James Franklin has secured a New Zealand Cricket contract and more than half the Black Caps have received an unexpected pay rise in the wake of Mark Richardson's retirement.

New Zealand manager Lindsay Crocker yesterday confirmed that Franklin was offered the contract starting from January 1 after test opener Richardson retired from all cricket last month.

Crocker said Franklin, 24, went in at No 20 on the ranking list, thereby receiving an annual retainer of $45,000, plus match payments.

It is understood Richardson was ranked No 6 on the contract list, meaning those ranked below him all move up a place and earn a $5000 increase on their retainers until the next year's contracts are decided on in May.

Left-armer Franklin, whose deeds this season included a test hat-trick against Bangladesh and his only 10-wicket haul in first-class cricket, against Northern Districts, was taken aback.

"I hadn't even thought about it, then [coach] John Bracewell gave me a call. It was a nice surprise and good to know I'm still in the selectors' minds," he said.

It was Franklin's first contract under the new system brought in after the 2002 players' strike, where the contracted players are ranked 1-20 and paid retainers from $125,000 for No 1 Stephen Fleming, decreasing by $5000 increments per player.

Franklin, with six tests and 30 one-day internationals to his name, has again been one of the form bowlers of domestic cricket this season and is pushing hard for a place in the test series against Australia in March.

In three State Championship matches, he has claimed 20 wickets at an average of 13.75.

Franklin has been playing almost non-stop since he was summoned out of Lancashire league cricket for Rishton to play the third test against England in June.

He finished the English season with Gloucestershire, then toured South Africa with New Zealand A, and Bangladesh and Australia with the Black Caps.

His toughest time came in the second test in Adelaide when Justin Langer took to him and he ended with none for 102 off 17 overs.

"The margin for error is so small over there . . . you've got to be 100 per cent on top of your game."

Franklin said he was injury-free, which was welcome news for Bracewell with speedster Ian Butler sidelined with a bulging disc in his back and Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori awaiting diagnosis on concerning back injuries.

"I've tried to get away from cricket sometimes and stay fresh," Franklin said. "It seems to be working."

- NZPA