Four newcomers have been included among 20 players awarded annual contracts by New Zealand Cricket.
Allrounder Nathan McCullum -- the older brother of Brendon McCullum -- seamer Andy McKay and batsmen B.J. Watling and Kane Williamson were included on a list released Tuesday by New Zealand Cricket. This list contains five changes from last year.
Veteran allrounder Scott Styris, who missed a contract in 2009, returns in place of Shane Bond, who has retired.
Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Daniel Flynn and James Franklin, who were among last year's 20 contracted players, did not have their contracts renewed.
"Nathan, Andy and B.J. have all made important contributions to New Zealand teams over the past 12 months without having central contracts," national selection panel spokesman Mark Greatbatch said. "They have now earned their positions."
"Kane Williamson is a young player whose pedigree is impeccable in terms of cricket development and we are now confident that he can step into the international arena and further advance his game."
New Zealand Cricket said negotiations toward a master agreement with the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association and New Zealand's six first-class associations were progressing well.
The parties had agreed to put in place an interim contracting arrangement for the 20 players this term. That arrangement would remain in place until Aug. 31 or until ratification of a new master agreement.
Greatbatch said 25 players are annually ranked by the selectors against set criteria in tests, one-day and Twenty20 internationals. A score was awarded for each form of the game and the 20 players with the highest aggregate scores were offered NZC contracts.
Contract list: Brent Arnel, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Andy McKay, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, B.J. Watling, Kane Williamson.
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