Photo Credit: Pakistan Cricket Board
Fast-bowler Adam Milne has been offered a NZC central contract for the first time in five years.
Milne’s elevation to the list comes off the back of his most productive international season, in which he appeared 16 times for the BLACKCAPS (11 T20Is and five ODIs) claiming 24 wickets at an average of 24, including a career-best 5-26 in the second T20I against Sri Lanka, the third best T20I figures by a New Zealander.
The 31-year-old, who made his international debut in 2010, was part of the BLACKCAPS’ past two ICC T20 World Cup campaigns.
BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead said Milne’s offer of a central contract was well-deserved and reflected his strong and ongoing commitment to play international cricket for New Zealand.
“Adam’s worked exceptionally hard and has shown good resilience over the past few years to be in a position to earn this contract offer,” said Stead.
“He’s always been a top-class bowler and we were impressed by his consistent contributions in the recent home summer and tour of Pakistan.”
Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, and Blair Tickner have been retained after joining last year’s list mid-season, replacing Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme and Martin Guptill – all of whom requested and were granted releases.
Spinner Ajaz Patel, who featured in the list last year but played in just two Tests during the period, has not been offered a central contract.
Boult, while again declining a central contract, has committed to being available for the BLACKCAPS for part of the playing programme and, on that basis, has been offered a casual playing agreement.
Under the terms of the Master Agreement, the players have until June 12 to accept or decline the contract offers.
Players offered central contracts for 2023/24: Finn Allen, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
