Returning
An educated guess and good old-fashioned bias is perhaps the best way to describe how we came up with our returnees. But we doubt many will disagree with our suggestion Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee and Trent Boult will be the among the first contracted.
The ''Fab Five'' have been at the centre of some wonderful efforts by the Black Caps in the past six months.
The next crop of test gloveman BJ Watling, left-armer Neil Wagner, punishing all-rounder Corey Anderson, limited-overs specialists spinner Nathan McCullum and strike bowler Mitchell McClenaghan, as well as batsman Martin Guptill, will almost certainly be offered contracts.
Promising opener Tom Latham has probably secured his contract with a good showing recently in the Caribbean, and veteran medium pacer Kyle Mills has an impressive one-day record and should be a part of the World Cup effort.
Newbies
Possibles
Adam Milne has raw pace and that has everyone excited. Has he done enough to usurp someone like Mills? Perhaps not. Canterbury's Matt Henry might be a better bet. He could take the spot bad boy Doug Bracewell will surely vacate.
Bolters
OK, this is where the bias comes in. Otago top order batsman Michael Bracewell had a tremendous first-class season for the Volts, scoring four centuries and demonstrating the patience that has not always been obvious in his game. He could be an option at the top of the order for the struggling Peter Fulton.
Craig's stunning debut means he has to be considered. But with Nathan McCullum and Sodhi likely to be offered contracts, there might not be room for the off-spinner.
Wildcards
Jesse Ryder is unbelievably good but a public relations nightmare. Has some serious bridges to repair. Ditto Doug Bracewell. Former captain and New Zealand's Daniel Vettori might miss out on a contract but he could still be part of the World Cup effort.
Slippery slope
Colin Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Dean Brownlie and Grant Elliott all got contracts last season but we do not think they will all survive the cut. Munro's spot will probably be cannibalised by Neesham, who is in irresistible form. Elliott, well, we were surprised he was on the list. Brownlie is yesterday's man and just not needed in a talented middle order. But his shift to Northern Districts and a new commitment to opening the batting could save his contract. Opener Hamish Rutherford might hang in for another season despite going through a lean patch. His spot is tenuous but perhaps not terminal like Fulton's.
Gone burger
Everyone loves Bruce ''Bucko'' Martin and it was great he was rewarded with some international cricket after such a long domestic career. But his spot will go to Sodhi or Craig. Opener Fulton filled a gap at the top but his international career is surely over this time, and medium pacer Doug Bracewell is still in the bad books after he went out drinking with Ryder on the eve of the opening test against India.
NZC contracted players
Our 20
Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jimmy Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Hamish Rutherford, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.
