Elliott Smith: NZ Cricket needs to pick its best talent

In the world of retirements from international sport, Colin Munro's from international cricket was an interesting one. 

Because he hadn't actually played for the Black Caps since February 2020. Hadn't got a contract in 2020, so he moved abroad. 

Then he turned himself into a T20 globetrotter - playing for franchises around the globe and slugging runs for fun for many of them. 

But that wasn't enough to crack a spot back in the Black Caps. Despite him being chased by a number of teams —from the Brisbane Heat to the Toronto Nations to the St Lucia Kings— as a gun for hire, NZC were steadfast in not picking him from abroad. 

He hasn't got a chance and has finally decided after missing out on the T20 World Cup next month that enough is enough, and he'll pull pin on his international career. 

In an interview you can hear later today on Weekend Sport, and you might have caught a bit of on our news bulletins yesterday, Munro felt his card was marked by previous NZC CEO David White. 

This is where cricket in this country needs to make a decision fast. Because Munro was a trendsetter in many ways and didn't get picked, now we have Trent Boult choosing when to play and that trickle could become a tide. 

He felt like he wasn't given a fair opportunity in his best format for his country and it's hard to disagree. 

The ICC needs to carve out non-T20 franchise periods for cricket ASAP, but NZ Cricket needs to pick its best talent and they didn't do that with Colin. Let's hope he's the last player whose talents they fail to make the most of. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.