Devon Conway opts for casual contract; fellow New Zealand opener Fin Allen joins Kane Williamson in declining central contract
New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Finn Allen have made their decisions regarding their central contracts as the Kiwis gear up for a busy cricketing season ahead. While Conway has opted for a casual contract, Allen has turned down a central one to concentrate more on franchise cricket opportunities.
The 33-year-old, selected for the overseas Tests against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, has pledged his commitment to all the international fixtures for the next 12 months, except for the white-ball leg against Sri Lanka in January. Instead, Conway wishes to ply his trade in SA20, the third edition of which begins on January 9.
Addressing his decision, Conway thanked New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for its complete support and cited his family as a significant reason behind opting for a casual contract. The veteran still pledged his commitment to New Zealand ahead of the important World Test Championship matches and the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
He was quoted as saying by NZC.nz:
"Firstly, I’d like to thank New Zealand Cricket for their support through this process. The decision to move away from a central playing contract isn’t one I’ve taken lightly, but I believe it is the best for me and my family at this present time. Playing for the BLACKCAPS is still the pinnacle for me and I’m hugely passionate about representing New Zealand and winning games of international cricket."
"I’m excited to be part of the upcoming Test squads for an important period in the ICC World Test Championship cycle and am looking forward to being involved in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next February if selected," Conway added.
Trent Boult and Martin Guptill had moved away from the national contract to pursue franchise opportunities in 2022, while Kane Williamson did so this year.
"Important to have flexibility in our system" - NZC CEO after Devon Conway's decision
NZC CEO Scott Weenink suggested that Conway's commitment to the national side is the reason they have decided to let him proceed with a casual contract.
"We’re delighted with Devon’s decision to commit to the BLACKCAPS – he’s a quality player who’s made a strong contribution to the team over the past few years. In the current environment it’s important to have flexibility in our system to navigate some of the challenges posed by franchise cricket – and this is another example of how we’re working hard to retain our best players," he told NZC.nz.
Meanwhile, Allen will remain in contention to represent New Zealand but will be on a case-by-case basis.