Movement of players within New Zealand’s domestic cricket has resulted in a re-balancing of player experience, especially when international players are taken out of the picture
Lynn McConnell01-Aug-2003Movement of players within New Zealand’s domestic cricket has resulted in a re-balancing of player experience, especially when international players are taken out of the picture.One of the aims of the player contract system was to have the best 66 players in the country looked after by way of security provided by a contract. But, in actual fact, 88 players are catered for, the number being bolstered by 20 players on international contracts and two overseas qualified players.The breakdown of international players in associations is significant. The list reads: Auckland (five), Canterbury (seven), Central Districts (two), Northern Districts (five), Otago (0) and Wellington (one). Central Districts and Otago also have Craig Spearman and Mohammad Wasim, respectively, as overseas contracted players.That puts significant pressure on Auckland, Canterbury and Northern Districts to have back-up players in their squads to cater for the absence of their international players and they have 16, 18 and 16 players respectively when the internationals are included with their domestic players.Combined experience of entire contracted squads:
Players Tests ODIs FC LA Auckland 16 79 190 740 951 Canterbury 18 221 779 1015 1705 Central Districts 14 43 127 536 700 Northern Districts 16 91 250 672 899 Otago 12 19 29 530 490 Wellington 12 90 270 683 910
Just what having a high contribution rate of international players can mean to a side is demonstrated in Canterbury’s case. Without their internationals, Canterbury’s remaining 11 players total 329 first-class games between them, and 322 List A one-day matches.The seven internationals among them have 686 first-class matches between them and 1383 List A matches. So when the majority of players are required for international matches, Canterbury can lose up to two-thirds of its experience in first-class play, and 80% in one-day matches. Admittedly, part of Canterbury’s numbers are affected by Chris Cairns’ play for Nottinghamshire.Auckland by comparison strikes a better balance. Its remaining players have 420 first-class games between them and 513 List A one-dayers. Their five internationals have 320 first-class games and 438 List A one-dayers experience between them.Wellington, with only one internationally contracted player, gains the advantage of having so few players involved, as it can call on a group of players with 524 first-class matches and 603 List A games. That is the most experience in both categories for all teams.Not surprisingly, given they have no international players contracted, Otago has the second highest number of first-class matches in their squad with 422, and third-highest with 406 in the List A games.Combined experience of domestic contracted squads:
----- internationals missing ------ FC LA Players Tests ODIs FC LA Auckland 420 513 5 71 159 320 438 Canterbury 329 322 7 205 769 686 1383 Central Districts 293 324 2 24 73 122 202 Northern Districts 370 341 5 76 237 302 558 Otago 422 406 0 - - - - Wellington 524 603 1 75 202 159 307
Of those players it is interesting to note, the international experience that is included.Combined international experience of domestic squads:
Players Tests ODIs Auckland 4 8 31 Canterbury 3 16 10 Central Districts 2 0 3 Northern Districts 2 15 13 Otago 3 1 4 Wellington 4 15 68
When the Black Caps are unavailable, the provinces will rely on 20 remaining players who have had international experience.Non-international contracted players with Test experience:
Tests Craig Spearman CD 19 Mohammad Wasim O 18 Matthew Hart ND 14 Matthew Bell W 13 Chris Martin C 11 Brooke Walker A 5 Gary Stead C 5 Kerry Walmsley A 3 James Franklin W 2 David Sewell O 1 Hamish Marshall ND 1
Non-international contracted players with ODI experience:
ODIs Craig Spearman CD 51 Chris Nevin W 32 Mohammad Wasim O 25 James Franklin W 24 Matthew Hart ND 13 Llorne Howell A 12 Brooke Walker A 11 Paul Hitchcock A 8 Matthew Bell W 7 Chris Martin C 7 Andrew Penn W 5 Jeff Wilson O 4 Glen Sulzberger CD 3 Warren Wisneski C 3
The manner in which New Zealand has largely kept its Test side together, barring injuries in recent times, is reflected in the developing core of experience in the side.The list of most Tests played by the contracted Black Caps now reads: Stephen Fleming 75, Nathan Astle 57, Chris Cairns 55, Daniel Vettori 46, Craig McMillan 44, Matt Horne 35, Mark Richardson 24, Chris Harris 23, Mathew Sinclair 20, Paul Wiseman 16, Daryl Tuffey 14, Lou Vincent 11, Shane Bond 10, Robbie Hart 7, Scott Styris 5, Jacob Oram 4, Ian Butler 4, Andre Adams 1.Fleming, if he was to play every Test between the start of the India tour in September and the Bangladesh tour in October next year, would overtake Sir Richard Hadlee’s record of 86 Test appearances for New Zealand.He is also climbing the list of most appearances as a captain. He will share sixth with Steve Waugh when the Australian captain leads his side out at Cairns on Friday on 51 appearances, but by the time he plays six more Tests, Fleming will be third on the all-time list. Those ahead of him are: Allan Border 93, Clive Lloyd 74, Arjuna Ranatunga 56, Mike Atherton 54, Hansie Cronje 53.The list of most ODIs played by the contracted Black Caps reads: Chris Harris 230, Stephen Fleming 202, Nathan Astle 174, Chris Cairns 167, Craig McMillan 130, Daniel Vettori 111, Scott Styris 64, Lou Vincent 56, Daryl Tuffey 51, Matt Horne 50, Jacob Oram 40, Mathew Sinclair 33, Andre Adams 28, Shane Bond 27, Brendon McCullum 26, Kyle Mills 21, Paul Wiseman 15, Ian Butler 9, Mark Richardson 4, Robbie Hart 2.The first-class, List A and combined match experience of all the international contractees as well as the top 20 domestic/overseas players in each category are listed below.Most first-class matches played:
Chris Cairns 198 Stephen Fleming 159 Mark Richardson 128 Nathan Astle 124 Paul Wiseman 112 Matt Horne 103 Chris Harris 101 Craig McMillan 98 Robbie Hart 96 Mathew Sinclair 86 Daniel Vettori 80 Scott Styris 54 Daryl Tuffey 53 Lou Vincent 40 Jacob Oram 36 Shane Bond 36 Kyle Mills 26 Andre Adams 23 Ian Butler 19 Brendon McCullum 17
Matthew Hart ND 122 Craig Spearman CD 121 Mohammad Wasim O 108 Matthew Bell W 101 Llorne Howell A 79 Michael Parlane W 78 Gary Stead C 78 Craig Cumming O 67 Glen Sulzberger CD 66 Chris Gaffaney O 66 Brooke Walker A 66 Robbie Lawson O 64 Warren Wisneski C 64 Richard Jones W 64 Andrew Penn W 63 Aaron Barnes A 61 Chris Nevin W 57 James Marshall ND 55 David Sewell O 55 Chris Martin C 52
Most List A matches played:
Chris Harris 359 Chris Cairns 342 Stephen Fleming 307 Nathan Astle 292 Craig McMillan 217 Daniel Vettori 160 Scott Styris 136 Robbie Hart 125 Matt Horne 119 Daryl Tuffey 114 Mathew Sinclair 109 Lou Vincent 105 Jacob Oram 93 Mark Richardson 91 Paul Wiseman 85 Andre Adams 65 Kyle Mills 58 Shane Bond 53 Brendon McCullum 35 Ian Butler 23
Craig Spearman CD 174 Chris Nevin W 120 Llorne Howell A 118 Matthew Hart ND 109 Michael Parlane W 106 Aaron Barnes A 103 Matthew Bell W 102 Gary Stead C 90 Mohammad Wasim O 84 Robbie Lawson O 83 Glen Sulzberger CD 74 Chris Gaffaney O 73 Warren Wisneski C 72 Brooke Walker A 70 Richard Jones W 65 Andrew Penn W 60 Hamish Marshall ND 58 Campbell Furlong CD 56 Gareth Hopkins O 56 Matthew Walker W 55
Most combined first-class and List A matches played:
Chris Cairns 540 Stephen Fleming 466 Chris Harris 460 Nathan Astle 416 Craig McMillan 315 Daniel Vettori 240 Matt Horne 222 Robbie Hart 221 Mark Richardson 219 Paul Wiseman 197 Mathew Sinclair 195 Scott Styris 190 Daryl Tuffey 167 Lou Vincent 145 Jacob Oram 129 Shane Bond 89 Andre Adams 88 Kyle Mills 84 Brendon McCullum 52 Ian Butler 42
Craig Spearman CD 295 Matthew Hart ND 231 Matthew Bell W 203 Llorne Howell A 197 Mohammad Wasim O 192 Michael Parlane W 184 Chris Nevin W 177 Gary Stead C 168 Aaron Barnes A 164 Robbie Lawson O 147 Glen Sulzberger CD 140 Chris Gaffaney O 139 Brooke Walker A 136 Warren Wisneski C 136 Richard Jones W 129 Andrew Penn W 123 Craig Cumming O 121 Gareth Hopkins O 107 James Marshall ND 103 Hamish Marshall ND 100
