Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell awarded with maiden central contracts by New Zealand Cricket

The New Zealand cricket team has been on a roll lately as their performance across formats has been brilliant. As per the latest ICC rankings, the Blackcaps are second in Test, third in T20Is, and at the top in ODI cricket. While veterans like skipper Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, and Trent Boult have been instrumental in the New Zealand team’s meteoric rise, some new names have also made notable contributions.

Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell are two such fresh faces, and the New Zealand Cricket Board awarded the duo with first-time central contracts. On Friday, the cricket body announced central contracts to their top-20 cricketers and made some notable inclusions. Both Phillips and Mitchell have done exceptionally well for New Zealand lately and left the selectors impressed. While Phillips was mainly awarded for his exploits in T20Is, the batting all-rounder made a mark in all formats.

“I’d like to congratulate all the players offered agreements for the coming season and in particular newcomers Daryl and Glenn. Receiving your first national contract is a great moment in any player’s career, and both thoroughly deserve their elevation,” Selector Gavin Larsen said in a statement released by NZC.

National Selector Gavin Larsen congratulates Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell

Glenn Phillips left the cricket world in awe by smashing a 46-ball century against West Indies last year, the fastest by any New Zealand batsman in T20Is. The dasher didn’t look back after that and played several such knocks. On the other hand, Daryl Mitchell stamped his mark with maiden Test and one-day international hundreds. With a busy season ahead, the selectors and team management would want the duo to continue their brilliant show.

Notably, left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel has been dropped from the contract for the coming season after receiving it for the first time last year. Larsen said Patel being injured for the most part of last season kept him out of the contracted players’ list. Nevertheless, the 32-year-old is part of the New Zealand squad for the upcoming Test series against England and the ICC World Test Championship final against India. Hence, some impressive performances in these crucial games can assure Patel a central contract next season.

New Zealand contracted players: Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.