Contract for Broom but not Craig

OTAGO toporder batsman Neil Broom has been offered a national contract but provincial teammate Mark Craig has dropped off the list.

Broom is one of three new additions to the list of 21 players offered a New Zealand Cricket contract.

He joins Auckland duo Jeet Raval and Colin de Grandhomme.

Broom gave up a county contract when he was offered an international lifeline in December during the oneday international series against Bangladesh. His recall came six years after his previous outing for the Black Caps and he had a cracking series, scoring 22, 109 not out and 97.

The 33yearold righthander made his test debut later in the season when Ross Taylor was ruled out with a calf injury.

Raval and de Grandhomme also made their test debuts this summer during the eightwicket win against Pakistan in Christchurch in November.

They both featured strongly, de Grandhomme taking six for 41 to help set up the win, and Raval posting scores of 55 and 36 not out in a lowscoring encounter.

Black Caps selector Gavin Larsen said the trio deserved contract offers following a productive summer for the team.

‘‘Colin made a breakthrough last summer and is rated well in all three formats,’’ Larsen said.

‘‘Jeet’s test numbers speak for themselves, and Neil, as well as averaging 43 in ODI cricket — with a strikerate of 90 — since his recall, is also seen as viable cover for the test team’s middle order.

Craig’s exclusion comes as no

surprise.

He is recovering from a back injury which kept him sidelined during the New Zealand

summer.

The offspinner will have to force his way back into the national setup through the

domestic game and the Volts will certainly enjoy having him back in their line up.

They struggled without a qual

ity slow bowler for most of the season but with Craig and legspinner Michael Rippon in the squad, the team can expect to be more competitive.

Paceman Doug Bracewell was also overlooked. The injury he sustained in December reduced his playing opportunities and allowed others to overtake him, Larsen said.

‘‘Doug is still viewed very positively by the selectors and has a big year in front of him in terms of bouncing back from his injury and proving his worth.

‘‘It’s been a difficult time for him since the knee injury but we’re all hopeful he’ll make a full and sustainable recovery.’’

Wellington wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi announced his retirement earlier in the week and is the only other player missing from last year’s list.

In Ronchi’s absence, BJ Watling is the only specialist keeper offered a contract. But there is certainly some good competition in the limitedovers formats with Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert all pressing their claims.

Veteran Wellington spinner Jeetan Patel has quietly retired from international cricket and was not considered.