Adam Milne receives NZC contract for first time in five years, Trent Boult to be with team in casual playing agreement

Trent Boult's commitment to the team while refusing to sign a key playing contract will help New Zealand's desire to do better in the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. Boult and New Zealand Cricket have made a settlement whereby the fast bowler will continue to play on a casual basis, while twenty of his international counterparts will be getting full-time contracts. In 2022 August, the 33-year-old pacer, and the New Zealand board made an arrangement during a central contract release that allowed him to continue playing in other local tournaments across the world and spend more time with his family.

Following Boult's release, NZC have nodded for the fast bowler playing for the national team in a casual playing agreement, and it seems like he will be returning in time for the World Cup setup. Meanwhile, Adam Milne, a fellow fast bowler, is set to accept his first central contract in five years following a standout year in the international game. With 24 wickets, including a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in a T20I back in April in Dunedin, the quick bowler has played 11 T20Is and five ODIs in the past 12 months.

Adam Milne has always been a top-class bowler: Stead

With the focus turning towards the Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, coach Gary Stead believes that Milne's selection is an equitable reward for his efforts. "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. 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,” Steady told to the ICC.

On the other hand, Colin de Grandhomme, and Martin Guptill have also received releases from central contracts as requested by them earlier. An offer for a primary contract has not been made to left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who was on the contractual list the previous year. 

Players offered NZC 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.