S Poddar
The cricketing world was astounded with the news that Devon Conway and Finn Allen rejected central contracts offered by New Zealand Cricket. The dynamic opening pair of batsmen, earning accolades through explosive batting and consistent performances, preferred a different path—one which saw them choosing franchise cricket ahead of traditional national contracts.
However, while eyebrows have been raised and debates started, it is a case of understanding the intricacies that are forcing such talented cricketers into making that kind of choice. In Conway’s case, the prospect of featuring in the South African T20 League, SA20, seemed really very compelling. The clashing timings of SA20 and New Zealand’s international commitments made it tough to juggle both without compromising either. It was therefore an informal playing agreement—which guaranteed his presence for most of New Zealand’s games while giving him the freedom during the SA20 window—that proved to be a workable compromise.
Conway’s decision is an action duplicated by fellow New Zealand stalwart Kane Williamson, who came to a similar arrangement. This trend underlines the huge effect franchise cricket has had on the game worldwide and the hard decisions left upon players in serving their national pride against the lures of big bucks.
On the other hand, Finn Allen has made a bolder move. He has refused not just a central contract, but even a casual playing agreement. It seems the young gun, known for his aggressive batting style, has found a whole new identity in the T20 circuit. His move could be said to show how heavily big-hitting and its associated financial lures are being embraced nowadays. While New Zealand Cricket says it’s disappointed, it has still ruled Allen will be eligible for national selection on a case by case basis in the future.
This change in priorities by Conway and Allen no doubt has soared a hole in New Zealand’s batting. The vacuum their going would create could be highly realized, much more in the shorter formats of the game. But it basically gives other players a chance to fill those slots. New Zealand cricket is known for its talent pool, which will no doubt easily slip into the roles left vacant by the exiting stars.
The decisions of Conway and Allen point to a much greater change in the way players and national cricket boards are functioning with each other. Gone, quite literally, are the days when players showed blind loyalty to national teams. Increasingly, money and personal ambition seem to count a great deal. Though this may be a bane for cricket boards, it ultimately does act as a call for them to revise and redesign their order to accommodate their best talent.
This also means that the cricketing world would now wait to see how the two decide upon their future course of action in the coming months. Will Conway and Allen now set a new precedent for their counterparts? How would New Zealand cricket manage without their stalwarts of the batting lineup? More so, will this chase of personal glory overthrow the collective dream of lifting the World Cup for their nation? Time shall tell.
