Tom Latham, a potential future ODI captain for New Zealand, has acknowledged the need for the team to be more adaptable as players increasingly opt out of central contracts to pursue franchise cricket opportunities.
Recently, Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, and Adam Milne declined the latest central contracts. Despite this, former captain Williamson, who will participate in the SA20 in January, was given a casual agreement, highlighting his ongoing significance to New Zealand cricket.
Williamson is expected to miss only a few limited-overs matches against Sri Lanka. When announcing his new arrangement, he affirmed his full commitment to international cricket. This move signifies another shift in the sport, following Trent Boult's decision two years ago to forgo a central contract to explore more T20 league opportunities.
Latham stressed that the team must adapt to these changes and remain flexible as players navigate their career choices between international commitments and lucrative franchise deals.