Rutherford loses central contract

Cricket365
July 10, 2014

New Zealand Cricket have removed opening batsman Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford from the contract list for 2014 and 2015.

Seamer Doug Bracewell, all-rounder Grant Elliott, spinner Bruce Martin and batsman Dean Brownlie have also been deemed surplus to requirement among six changes to the 20-player group.

Fast bowlers Matt Henry and Adam Milne, spinners Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi, wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi and all-rounder Jimmy Neesham have been included for the first time.

"We've had a very strong summer followed by the Test series victory in the West Indies where a number of younger players put their hands up for consideration," said general manager of national selection Bruce Edgar.

"Two of those integral to the series win in the West Indies were spinners Sodhi and Craig. While we accept that Mark and Ish are by no means the finished product, they are promising bowlers that we want to invest time in.

"Adam and Matt are two exciting young bowlers that if we manage well have got a big future in all forms of the game. Jimmy and Luke are both consistent members of our shorter-form teams and they've recently been selected in our Test squad as well."

The veteran Daniel Vettori was not considered due to ongoing injury problems. Vettori show plenty of promise for the Marylebone Cricket Club recently, completing 10 solid overs in a limited-overs showpiece against the Rest of the World XI at Lord's. All-rounder Jesse Ryder, who is currently playing for Essex in English county cricket, isn't in the contracted fold either.

"Daniel is working pretty hard. I hear he's pretty fit. It's just a matter of form and we would look seriously at him if we know he's available," added Edgar. "At the time, we decided that Jesse's preparation wasn't up to the standard that we required. To this stage, it's still the same. It doesn't discount him from selection at some future point."

<b>Contract list:</b> Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.