Kane Williamson opts out as New Zealand announce central contracts for 2024-25 season

Apart from Kane Williamson, Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson also relinquished their central contracts.

The former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has opted out of the central contracts offered by New Zealand Cricket (NZC). NZC unveiled the list of centrally contracted players for the 2024-25 season on July 10, 2024.

Apart from Kane Williamson, pacers Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson also have opted out of NZC central contracts, while Blair Tickner has left the group of 20 players.

Williamson’s decision to forego a central contract was revealed last month, but he is still likely to feature in the test side and will be eligible for New Zealand both before and after his trip to the SA20 in January 2025. Availability to both New Zealand and the Super Smash T20 competition is one of the contract’s terms.

Williamson, having relinquished his role as New Zealand’s white-ball captain post the T20 World Cup 2024, has committed to a casual playing contract for the 2024-25 season, indicating his ongoing commitment to the team.

Blair Tickner has not been granted a central contract, and with Neil Wagner’s retirement, he is absent from the contract list.

Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke and Jacob Duffy receive first New Zealand central contracts

New Zealand Cricket acknowledged Rachin Ravindra’s breakthrough year with inclusion of him in the central contracts along with pacers Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke, and Jacob Duffy. Also returning to central contracts is spinner Ajaz Patel.

After making 578 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Ravindra struck his first test century in Mount Maunganui against South Africa, which he converted into 240 runs. Ravindra was the tournament’s breakthrough hero.

In March 2024, he was named the New Zealand men’s Player of the Year 2023, making him the youngest recipient of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal.

“Growing up you’d see those contract lists come out each year and think it would be cool to be on that list one day – and for it to eventuate now is a pinch-myself moment. It’s been a really cool past 12 months playing international cricket. I’ve learned a lot and the hunger is definitely there to keep improving and giving to the Blackcaps,” Ravindra was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

New Zealand will need a new white-ball captain following Williamson’s contract decision.

New Zealand central contracts 2024-25:

Finn Allen, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young

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