Allrounder James Franklin will play another season of
domestic cricket for Wellington as he seeks to win back a
place in the New Zealand side.
Franklin was one of four players this month dropped from New
Zealand Cricket's 20-strong list of contracted players,
alongside Daniel Flynn, Ian Butler and Neil Broom.
The 29-year-old has Irish grandparents and had the option of
using his ancestry to secure his future as a local player in
English county cricket where he is currently playing for
Gloucestershire.
But his desire to play again for New Zealand is still strong.
"He's focused on making the New Zealand team to play in the
ICC one-day World Cup in India in February and March,"
Wellington head coach Anthony Stuart said in a statement
today.
"James is disappointed about missing out on a New Zealand
contract, but he has indicated that he is hugely motivated to
play well for Wellington where his experience and ability
with both bat and ball would be a huge asset."
Cricket Wellington chief executive Gavin Larsen said he was
thrilled to have Franklin back for the 2010-11 season.
"James has a point to prove to the New Zealand selectors and
my hope is that he delivers big-time for us on the park and
forces his name in to World Cup calculations," Larsen said.
Franklin has been in good form for Gloucestershire in
first-class and limited overs competitions.
He has scored 576 runs in 18 innings with a highest score of
99 and has taken 23 wickets with a best return of four for 27
to date in the first-class arena.
Earlier this season he hit his maiden one-day century (133
not out) in the 40-overs a side competition. Opening the
batting in the English Twenty20 competition, he has scored
448 runs at an average of 40.72 with a top score of 90, and
has also taken eight wickets.
Franklin has played 26 tests, 75 one-day internationals and
13 Twenty20 matches for New Zealand since 2000.
His most recent match for New Zealand was a one-day
international against Australia in March this year.
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