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New Zealand Cricket announces contracted players for 2012-13

New Zealand Cricket today announced the twenty players to be offered BLACKCAPS contracts for the year 1 August 2012 to 31 July 2013.

Trent BoultNorthern Knights
Doug BracewellCentral Stags
Dean BrownlieCanterbury Wizards
Andrew EllisCanterbury Wizards
Daniel FlynnNorthern Knights
James Franklin Wellington Firebirds
Martin GuptillAuckland Aces
Chris MartinAuckland Aces
Brendon McCullumOtago Volts
Nathan McCullumOtago Volts
Kyle MillsAuckland Aces
Tarun NethulaAuckland Aces
Tarun NethulaCentral Stags
Rob NicolCanterbury Wizards
Jacob OramCentral Stags
Tim SoutheeNorthern Knights
Ross TaylorCentral Stags
Kruger van WykCentral Stags
Daniel VettoriNorthern Knights
BJ WatlingNorthern Knights
Kane WilliamsonNorthern Knights

Dean Brownlie, Doug Bracewell, Andrew Ellis, Tarun Nethula and Kruger van Wyk are offered contracts for the first time this year. James Franklin regains a central contract after missing out last year.

Players included in last year's list who are not contracted for 2012-13 include Hamish Bennett, Neil Broom, Andy McKay, Jesse Ryder, Luke Woodcock and Reece Young.

A set criteria is used to rank players across all three forms of the game with Test cricket receiving twice the weighting of ODIs and Twenty20 internationals. The players with the highest aggregate scores are then offered NZC contracts.

National Selection Manager, Kim Littlejohn, said the 20 contracted players are the cricketers likely to add the greatest value to the BLACKCAPS in a challenging but exciting period for the side.

"We have five new contracted players and their addition reflects the strong performances they have put in over the past 12 months and the value they are expected to bring to the BLACKCAPS this coming year.

"It's an exciting time for the BLACKCAPS with a number of important series in the 2012-13 season including the ICC World Twenty20 tournament.

"We believe the contracted players will be integral to the success of the team in what will be a demanding period against highly ranked opposition.

"There were some difficult decisions and it's disappointing for the players who did not have their contracts renewed. We are confident they will continue to work hard and look to force their way into the team through performance."

The Major Association contracts will be announced 22 July 2012.