NZ central contract list out; Elliott and Bracewell return, Santer gets first contract

Elliott’s performance at the World Cup has been paid back

It is said that if you put your confidence in someone, they live up to it. In the case of Grant Elliott, this is certainly proving true. The selectors trusted him by naming him in the World Cup squad, even though it was a risky move – he hadn’t played for New Zealand since November 2013. In the semi-final, he lived up to it by scoring an unbeaten 84, and the winning six, to catapult New Zealand into the finals.

Elliott’s World Cup stint has earned him a place in the 20-man central contract list for 2015-16. Dough Bracewell, too, has returned to the list with Elliott. “Doug deserved to return,” Hesson said. “He's performed strongly and forced his way back into the fold - ultimately in longer-form cricket, although we continue to see him as a multi-skilled player.”

Bracewell debuted in 2011 against Zimbabwe. He has played 19 Tests since. He was not included in the starting XI in either Tests for the drawing series, though he was included in the recent tour of England. His last match was in January, against Sri Lanka. In domestic cricket, in the last season for Plunket Shield, he took 33 wickets, at an average of 28.39.

The third change in the list is the addition of Mitchell Santner. He has been awarded the contract for the first time. The left-arm spinner made his international debut in June.

“Mitch is a player of genuine all-round ability,” Mike Hesson, New Zealand coach and selector, said. “His appearance on this list is recognition of where we see his skills in all three forms of the game. My feeling is that we'll see a lot more of him with the bat, in particular, as he gains more experience.”

New Zealand central contract list for 2015-16

Corey Anderson, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson

The three new additions replace Kyle Mills, Ish Sodhi and Colin Munro. While Kyle Mills has retired from all forms of cricket, Sodhi was dropped due to non-performance in the three-match series against Pakistan last November, where he took eight wickets at an average of 67.62. Munro has played seven ODIs, 15 T20s and just one Test.

Munro is currently involved with County Cricket, playing for Worcestershire.