Gary Stead, Kane Williamson and Tom Latham in discussion, Basin Reserve, 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Tom Latham believes New Zealand Cricket's contract system needs to evolve to best cater for top players taking up franchise deals.
Experienced opening bat Latham said the sport's administrators would need to adopt a "fluid" approach to contracting, with New Zealand's system having worked well for several years but now facing a tug-of-war to retain international players who consider big-money T20 league deals.
The issue reared its head again after this month's announcement of 20 players offered NZ Cricket (NZC) central contracts.
Kane Williamson, Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson made themselves unavailable, with a view to taking up T20 offers.
Kane Williamson at training. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Williamson said he would still be available for most New Zealand series but nevertheless ceded the white ball captaincy.
He was granted a casual agreement by NZC to reflect standing as an important Black Cap.
Latham expected the number of players bypassing central contracts would only get bigger.
"I don't know what the right system is, there is a lot of flexibility within our contracts at the moment," Latham told journalists.
"But think with the changing landscape of cricket, I'm sure it will be something that New Zealand Cricket and the players' association look at and try and come up with something. It's never great when you miss guys of Kane's calibre, but it gives opportunities to other guys to put their best foot forward."
World class seam bowler Trent Boult spurned a contract two years ago to pursue franchise opportunities.
He largely has not played for New Zealand since but has been recalled back to Black Caps squad for major tournaments.
Latham said international player deals were no longer "black and white" in New Zealand.
Tom Latham. Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
"I guess everyone is in a slightly different boat in what their future may look like depending on their age or stage they are in life," he said.
"Whenever we can have them I'm sure that will be great, but think we've certainly got to be pretty fluid with what things look like in the future."
Finger injury
Meanwhile, Latham revealed he suffered a broken finger in training on Monday which rules him out of cricket for about a month.
It means he will miss the looming Canadian T20 league competition but the 32-year-old is expected to be available for New Zealand's next international fixture, the one-off Test against Afghanistan in September.