The Wellington Firebirds have secured the services of James Franklin for the 2010/11 domestic cricket season.
Franklin, who recently missed out on a New Zealand Cricket central contract, will re-join the Firebirds at the start of the season from English county Gloustershire who he is currently playing for.
Wellington Firebirds Head Coach Anthony Stuart said Franklin’s experience and ability with both bat and ball will be a huge asset for the squad this season.
“James is disappointed about missing out on a New Zealand contract, but he has indicated that is hugely motivated to play well for Wellington when he comes home and that is tremendous for us,” added Stuart.
“When he gets home we’ll have a chat and evaluate his goals for the summer and what role he is best suited to play for the Firebirds.”
“He’s focused on making the New Zealand team to play in the ICC one-day World Cup in India in February and March, and if he’s fit and firing then the Firebirds will be a better team for it.”
Cricket Wellington Chief Executive Gavin Larsen said: “I’m thrilled that we have re-secured James as a Wellington Firebirds player. As we all know, he’s an absolute match-winner and to have him committed to the Firebirds across all three forms of the game next summer is extremely exciting.”
“James has a point to prove to the New Zealand selectors and my hope is that he delivers big-time for us on the park and forces his name in to World Cup calculations,” said Larsen.
Franklin has been in good form for Gloustershire in the 2010 English county First-Class, One-Day and domestic Twenty20 competitions.
In first-class cricket to date he has scored 576 runs in 18 innings with a highest score of 99 and has taken 23 wickets with a best return of 4 for 27. Earlier in the season he hit his maiden One-Day cricket century (133 not out) in the 40 over a side competition. Opening the batting in the English Twenty20 competition, he has scored 448 runs at an average of 40.72 with a highest score of 90, and has also taken 8 wickets.
Franklin has played 26 Tests, 75 One Day Internationals and 13 Twenty20 Internationals for New Zealand since his international debut in a ODI in January 2001 in Taupo against Zimbabwe. His most recent match for New Zealand was an ODI against Australia in March this year.
