New Zealand Test captain Tim Southee has called upon the cricket boards and the franchise leagues to a model that is easier for the players regarding the club vs country dilemma. He conceded that as of now; nobody actually has a proper solution to the problem, but what this casual playing contract does is that it lets the Kanes Williamsons and Devon Conways of the world play in most of the matches.
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New Zealand have been one of the worst affected when it comes to cases of players exercising their pullout option to concentrate on T20 career. Besides Williamson and Conway, there are Boult, Ferguson, Milne and Allen who have rejected central contracts provided by NZC.
Speaking to media on the side-line of CEAT cricket rating award in Mumbai recently, Southee was asked for his view on the ‘money vs country’ debate that is currently topical. Asked if he sees any solution the problem, the pacer replied:
“I don’t have the answers. Right now, I don’t think many people do. So I think it’s about working out what’s best for each individual board and their players. New Zealand Cricket seem to think that’s the best way for the next 12 months. I don’t think Kane and Devon will miss a lot of cricket for New Zealand. So for them to have the flexibility in doing that, but still also be committed to New Zealand, which I think that’s where the casual playing agreement comes in,”
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“So at this stage, obviously the franchise leagues and the franchise world is growing. It would be nice to see the international [boards] and the leagues working together in some way because, especially Test cricket, I think for a lot of players is still the pinnacle of the format,”
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“Format-wise, I think Test cricket is still the pinnacle for me and the format I hold closest to the heart. I really enjoy the T20, the Hundred format keeps you young, keeps you guessing, keeps you thinking and trying to improve your game, and your skill set, which helps across the other formats,”