ICL Information

‘I don’t have any loyalty to NZ Cricket’

Disillusioned allrounder Andre Adams has joined the player exodus to the Indian Cricket League (ICL) after abandoning his international aspirations in the wake of a fall-out with New Zealand coach John Bracewell.

Adams, who openly courted an approach from the ICL a month ago, confirmed a two-year contract today which enables him to follow the lead of Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Daryl Tuffey, Hamish Marshall and Shane Bond and capitalise on the riches offered by the Twenty20s “rebel” league.

Adams, 32, who played 42 ODIs for New Zealand between 2001-07, had no qualms about joining the ICL after voicing dissatisfaction with Bracewell and his fellow selectors about being consistently left out of the side.

He was left out of last year’s World Cup squad after expecting to be named as the logical replacement for an injured Kyle Mills and Adams’ mood darkened further when he missed selection for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in September.

He subsequently declared his unavailability for the one-day series in South Africa last December.

Being ignored for the test series against Bangladesh later that month was essentially the final straw - particularly after he led State Championship bowling averages with 29 wickets at 8.27 apiece.

“I’m pretty disappointed with the treatment I’ve received over the past year, especially not being picked for the World Cup,” Adams said at the time.

“I’ve watched some players who were picked ahead of me have a pretty average time of it, and they just keep playing.

“When I was also left out of the Twenty20 world champs, I thought `well, if I can’t get in ahead of Bradley Scott I must be a fair bit off the pace.”

Adams revealed last month he was open to ICL overtures.

“I don’t have any loyalty to New Zealand Cricket. I have done my bit for them and if it means I had to knock my aspirations of playing test cricket again on the head, so be it.”

Adams played one test - a victory against England at Eden Park almost six years ago where he took six wickets.

He played the last of his ODIs against Sri Lanka in Auckland 13 months ago, when New Zealand were routed for 73.

Adams’ contract, which commits him to three rounds of the ICL played over 102 days in April, October, November and December, allows him to continue playing provincially for Auckland although his contract with the Auckland Cricket Association was terminated by mutual consent.

Like Harris and Tuffey he will continue to play for match payments until he is required to head to India in mid-April.

Setting aside his issues with Bracewell and NZC’s selectors, Adams said the ICL was a perfect opportunity to secure the future of his family.

“It’s an opportunity I simply can’t turn down. It also offers me the chance to play in India for the first time with and against some high profile players. I’m excited about the challenge.”

A hard hitting lower order batsman and medium pace bowler, Adams scored 417 ODI runs at 17.45 and claimed 53 wickets at 31.00 with a best of five for 22 against the India in Queenstown five years ago.

Source:http://www.stuff.co.nz