Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum has signed with New Zealand Cricket for another year and is the first name you would expect to see on the list when 20 players are offered national contracts next week. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi takes a stab at what that list may look like.
Straight to the pool room
Each year about five or six players are tossed out and another lot takes their place. But there is always a degree of predictability about the top 10 or so places.
Brendon McCullum cleared up the uncertainty around his future, committing to New Zealand Cricket for the next year.
Kane Williamson is the next pick.
He is the captain-in-waiting and has taken over as the side's class batsman from Ross Taylor, who slots in at No 4 on my list.
Left -arm seamer Trent Boult had a marvellous World Cup campaign and is a much more consistent performer than Tim Southee, who can be a bit hot and cold.
Boult is at No 3 and Southee at No 5.
Safe
Hard-hitting all-rounder Corey Anderson and test gloveman BJ Watling would be at the top of the next group of players. Somehow the selectors have to find a way to provide Watling more opportunities in the one-day team without casting aside Luke Ronchi, who is very handy finisher down the order.
Martin Guptill's star has risen. He is back playing all three formats and test players Tom Latham and Mark Craig also appear safe.
Seamers Adam Milne and Matt Henry can bank on another contract offer.
The selectors love Milne's pace but his fragile body must be of concern, while Henry filled in for Milne during the World Cup and impressed.
All-rounder Jimmy Neesham is back bowling following a lay-off with a back complaint.
He was overlooked for the World Cup squad but has done well at test level.
Back again
If that six Grant Elliott hit off Dale Steyn which sealed New Zealand's spot in the World Cup final was all he had done, then it would still enough to warrant a contract.
But he is a better player than that wonderful one-off performance.
He is not much of a bowling option, though, and ultimately New Zealand needs a player in the top five who can get through at least five overs with the ball.
Seamer Doug Bracewell is back in favour and might pick up the contract made vacant by Kyle Mills' retirement.
Newbie
Mitchell Santner?
We will find out next week but the left-arm spinner probably did enough on the tour of England to nab a contract ahead of the leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.
He could easily sub in for Otago's Nathan McCullum as well.
Under pressure
A couple of Otago lads are on the cusp this round.
Nathan McCullum did a wonderful job plugging up an end during Daniel Vettori's absence but his value has declined.
Spinners are getting clobbered these days and McCullum has not been able to stem the runs or offer much with the bat.
Neil Wagner might also be sweating.
Henry and Milne look better prospects for the future and Bracewell appears to have pulled ahead of Wagner in the pecking order.
Mitchell McClenaghan is another clinging to the last few rungs. His form has fallen away.
Axed?
Batsman Colin Munro.
He often bullies domestic attacks but the bowling is better at the next level and he does not appear to have the temperament to adjust.
And Sodhi might be the other victim.
He has impressed with the turn he can extract and with his variations.
But there is usually room for only one spinner in the Black Caps test side and Craig has cemented his place for now.
