According to a statement released on the New Zealand Cricket website, veteran opener Martin Guptill will be released from the New Zealand central contracts players list on a mutual agreement between the player and the board. The right-hander made his debut in the year 2009 and has been with the team for the last 14 years.
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| Image Credits: ESPN Cricinfo |
Guptill was the most important player in New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup in which he also scored a double century becoming the only player from his country to score a double century in ODIs. However, he did not perform up to the mark in the next edition of the World Cup in 2019. And since then his form was not up to the mark, averaging just around 30.
The 36-year-old did not play a Test match in the last 6 years while he represented his national team in limited-overs cricket. He last played his ODI in September this year while he last represented New Zealand in October 2022 which was a T20I against Bangladesh. He only played what was to be his last T20I as a replacement for the rested Kane Williamson in which he scored 34 off 27 deliveries.
Moreover, Guptill was warming the bench throughout the T20 World Cup 2022 edition in Australia and was also not selected in the limited-overs squads of New Zealand for the ongoing series against India at home!
“We understand Martin’s position. He’s been a fantastic batsman for us for a long period of time, and we certainly don’t wish to stand in his way as he explores other opportunities. Martin’s been a giant of the white ball game, a committed and well-respected member of the BLACKCAPS, and has earned the right to play out his career on his own terms,” said NZC chief executive David White as quoted in NZC statement.
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