Turner Admits Flaw in Contracts System

Auckland: Glenn Turner, New Zealand's chairman of selectors, has defended the selection of players without central contracts for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka in August and September.

Reacting to criticism over the selection of five players not on the list of 20 contracted players over the likes of Brent Arnel and James Franklin - both with retainers - Turner admitted there were flaws in the central contracts system and said he was working on a new arrangement.

Included in New Zealand's 15-man Test squad were Daryl Tuffey, Reece Young and Craig Cumming, who all missed out on central contracts last month.

Young, the Auckland wicketkeeper, was picked as over for Brendon McCullum despite Gareth Hopkins being the spare gloveman in the contract list released a fortnight ago.

Hopkins was chosen in the ODI squad while a fourth wicketkeeper, Peter McGlashan, was named for the Twenty20 portion of the trip. The ODI side includes another without a contract, Nathan McCullum. Turner defended these selections, saying there were picked on merit.

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