Blackcaps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has spurned a domestic cricket contract and seems poised to pursue a career as a white-ball mercenary around the world.
After missing out on an NZ Cricket contract last month, Neesham, 31, has announced he will leave Wellington Firebirds to base himself in Auckland - without actually linking with Auckland Aces.
He helped the Firebirds to titles in all three formats, including back-to-back Super Smash T20 crowns in 2020 and 2021.
"After seven years with Otago and four with Wellington, it's come to the point where I'm looking for a more settled summer at home and returning to Auckland made the most sense," said Neesham.
"I've had discussions with the Aces around being involved with their squad in a training capacity. The season is still long way off, so what that means from a playing aspect is a little unclear."
After 10 years in the national team, Neesham is still desperate to continue his involvement in the limited-overs programme, despite losing his central contract. In the immediate future, the Blackcaps will contest the T20 World Cup in Australia over October/November.
"My main priority is still playing for New Zealand," he insisted. "There have been a few people in the past that slipped off the radar after making a decision like this, but I wanted to be really clear with NZ Cricket around that being my priority.
"The nature of the kind of cricket I play at the moment is there will be no shortage of opportunities to prove I'm playing well, whether it be in New Zealand or overseas."
Since debuting for the Blackcaps in 2012, Neesham has carved a niche for himself in NZ cricketing folklore for his swashbuckling style on the field and wry sense of humour on social media.
He scored a century against India on test debut in 2014, then another against West Indies, becoming the first Kiwi to score tons in his first two tests.
In 2019, he smashed 34 runs, including five sixes, in an over against Sri Lanka, the most by an NZ batter in a one-day international match.
That same year, he and Martin Guptill were sent out to face the 'Super Over' at the Cricket World Cup final against England, which ended in a tie and the crown awarded to the home side on a countback of boundaries at Lord's.
Neesham already plays extensively in overseas T20 leagues across India, England and the Caribbean.
A path for his possible future has already been blazed by big-hitting opening bater Colin Munro, who lost his NZC contract last year, but continued to chase his Blackcaps dream, starring in the Australian 'Big Bash' competition last summer, with stops in Pakistan and England's 'The Hundred'.
