Williamson cert for No1; Santner loved

Kane Williamson scores a century at the University Oval earlier this year. Photo: Getty Images

Dead certs

Unless Kane Williamson is too busy alphabetising his cricket memorabilia and forgets to put some ink on his new contract, he will get the top spot.

The world-class right-hander will be joined in the top five by New Zealand’s other leading batsman Ross Taylor and one-day demon Martin Guptill.

Twin bowling threats Trent Boult and Tim Southee can expect a lucrative retainer, although Southee might have slipped down the pecking order. Otago’s Neil Wagner has had a wonderful 12 months and got the nod ahead of Southee for the first test against South Africa in Dunedin in March. He might have bounced his way into the top five.

Upper middle order

Top-order batsman Tom Latham and keeper BJ Watling have their test spots secured and can expect to climb a place or two in the rankings. The selectors love spinner Mitchell Santner, while allrounder Corey Anderson is always injured but a project with which the Blacks Caps are likely to persevere.

Unbelievable Anderson has  played only 13 tests.

How many tests did Jacob Oram play?

Next drawer down

Otago’s Neil Broom gave up a county contract to represent his country again and is probably owed a contract. Volts team-mate allrounder Jimmy Neesham is up and down with the bat and has not convinced as a bowler at international level. But he hits the ball crisply and has many good years ahead.

Aucklander Colin Munro gets stuck with the flaky label but perhaps some good coaching could bring the best out of him at the next level. Legspinner Ish Sodhi ought to keep his contract and, who knows, he might even get to play every now and then. Canterbury Henry Nicholls is another keeper, although the 25-year-old left-hander still has plenty to prove at international level. Central Districts batsman and part-time left-arm slow bowler George Worker has not had enough opportunity to play his way out of a contract and could be a good contributor in coloured clothing.

Adam Milne is always broken but valuable when fit because of the pace he generates. Opener Jeet Raval and seamer Matt Henry can expect to see their names on the list and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme has a strong case.

On the outer?

Central Districts seamer Doug Bracewell could be too busy doing community work following his conviction for his third drink-driving offence.

Otago spinner Mark Craig will be returning from back surgery and may have to play his way back into form through the domestic competition. That is good news for the Volts. Otago laboured when it was without a quality slow bowler.

Auckland left-armer Mitchell McClenaghan is the best reason we can think of to avoid the paleo diet craze. Since switching to caveman rations, he has really porked it on. The 31-year-old is perhaps past his best-before date.

Retired

Wellington gloveman Luke Ronchi retired the day before the contracts were expected to be announced. Coincidence? Unlikely. Definitely time for the Black Caps to look to the future.

Newbies?

Central Districts batsman Tom Bruce looked comfortable in his first four twenty20 games for his country. Wellington keeper Tom Blundell might take the spot Ronchi has vacated or perhaps that role will go to Northern Districts gloveman Tim Seifert, while his team-mate, Scott Kuggeleijn, shapes as a likely inclusion to bolster the stock of seamers. He bowls with good heat, has a great bumper and has been the form seamer in the Plunket Shield for the past two seasons.