Day world cup

As New Zealand: As New Zealand's Test cricket team gears up for an intense schedule featuring nine Test matches over the coming months, the country's cricket landscape is experiencing growing tension between international commitments and franchise leagues.

With high-profile players opting out of central contracts, Test captain Tim Southee has acknowledged the issue and expressed hope that cricket boards and franchise leagues could find a way to work together to resolve it.

He noted that New Zealand Cricket (NZC) was actively working to balance the interests of both the players and the national team. "There are plenty of offers out there that weren't around years ago. But yeah, at the moment it's about concentrating on playing for New Zealand and giving that everything," Southee told ESPNcricinfo.