2025/26 Men’s Domestic Contracts Announced
The first round of the Men’s domestic contracts were announced last week with movements out of Otago and new players being rewarded with first time contracts being the key points.
The first round of the Men’s domestic contracts were announced last week with movements out of Otago and new players being rewarded with first time contracts being the key points. Vincent and Otis discuss the six associations contracts for the 2025/26 season.
Otago:
Dale Phillips, Dean Foxcroft, Travis Muller, Leo Carter and Zac Cumming have all dropped off the initial 15 contracted list for the 25/26 Domestic Season.
Cumming never seemed to pick up after what was considered a lucky contract pickup while Muller and Carter never seemed to show the promise they did a few seasons ago.
Phillips and Foxcroft were arguably in the top 5 best players the association has seen in the past 10 years who played game in, game out. The New Zealand A duo have moved on to what seem to be better teams and associations to develop their game. Phillips has moved back to Auckland, where he played u17 and u19 cricket, while Foxcroft has moved to his original NZ home of CD.
Alongside these losses in players, Ash Noffke left after just one season after a 3 week trial run as Pakistan’s bowling coach, being rumored to take the role full-time. Ben McCord has moved back to Canterbury, taking up a new job. With no permanent coach appointed, Gary Stead has stepped into an interim role starting on the 30th of June to help work with players who stayed back in Otago.
Outside recruitments of Jack Boyle, Troy Johnson, and Danru Ferns, while Mason Clarke has joined the contracts list after a breakout Super Smash campaign.
This has left Otago with no second-choice spinner in their contract list, leaving to wonder if they’ll even use spin in the Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy matches.
Boyle joins after a breakout season at CD, averaging 41 in the Ford Trophy while striking at 85 while averaging 31 at 130 in the Super Smash. This seems like a like-for-like replacement for Dale Phillips, while Troy Johnson looks to have replaced Dean Foxcroft.
Danru Ferns has joined for a new challenge, being a replacement for Travis Muller, who wasn't used much by Noffke this past season. He was the Super Smash player of the year in 2023/24, and Otago will need him to replicate that if they want any deal with pushing for titles.
This looks like a weak contract selection for Otago, losing some of their best players and only providing a few who have proved to match the standard. With one more contract to appoint it seems that it will be between Zac Cumming, Hunter Kindley and Ruben Clinton internally if they want a second spinning option.
Otago Volts: Matt Bacon, Jack Boyle, Max Chu, Mason Clarke, Jacob Cumming, Danru Ferns, Luke Georgeson, Jake Gibson, Andrew Hazeldine, Llew Johnson, Troy Johnson, Ben Lockrose, Jarrod McKay, Thorn Parkes, Jamal Todd.
Canterbury:
Canterbury has retained a stable core as it continues to strive forward. This helps with gaining another NZC contract position, opening another spot.
Ish Sodhi joins the list after losing his NZC deal; however, Zak Foulkes and Mitch Hay have gained NZC deals, allowing for an extra spot on the contracts list.
Jesse Frew is a like-for-like replacement for Mitch Hay, making his shield debut last season, he’ll look to push forward and take the gloves in all formats when Tom Latham and Hay are on international duty. Competition may remain stern in the Super Smash with Chad Bowes taking the gloves during last season.
Scott Janett made his first-class debut alongside Frew last season. He played the backend of the Ford Trophy (excluding the final) and 3 shield matches throughout the season, including scoring 115 against Otago. The right-hand opener looks to be a threatening player for the future.
Leo Carter only lasted a season away from home and has moved back to Canterbury. It seems that Sean Davey’s contracted career may be gone after being underutilised throughout the last season, while Ed Nuttal and Ken McClue may also fall into that bracket.
Overall, Canterbury hasn’t advanced any further nor dropped back, remaining a threatening side throughout all competitions.
Canterbury: Chad Bowes, Matt Boyle, Leo Carter, Jesse Frew, Scott Janett, Rhys Mariu, Cole McConchie, Angus McKenzie, Cam Paul, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Michael Rae, Michael Rippon, Matt Rowe, Fraser Sheat.
Wellington:
Don’t change a winning side is what they say. However, only the red ball side performed well for Wellington. As their wonderkids continue to blossom into Blackcaps, it seems that the aura and skill they once had have now depleted.
Two changes were made this season with Iain McPeake retiring, Abbas jumping onto the NZ contract list, and Troy Johnson has now joined the vexed Volts.
This brought 2 changes, all blooding younger talent. Samuel Morgan has joined the contracts after notching up a score of 226* last season in club cricket. The batsman averages 50 in the Wellington 2-day competition, and he’ll bring much-needed batting depth to the side.
Amogh Paranje has effectively replaced McPeake; he bowled the most overs in Wellington Premier Cricket last season, along with taking 10 wickets in the 3 day final. He will strive to improve what has seemed to be a weak Wellington bowling attack.
There isn’t much to discuss for Wellington, they’ve not strengthened or weakened their team. Troy Johnson may be a big loss in the dressing room; however, they need to improve in the white ball formats next season. These 2 signings give hope along with another signing announced soon.
Wellington Firebirds: Liam Dudding, Nick Greenwood, James Hartshorn, Nick Kelly, Callum McLachlan, Samuel Morgan, Sam Mycock, Amogh Paranjpe, Tim Robinson, Gareth Severin, Michael Snedden, Jesse Tashkoff, Logan van Beek, Peter Younghusband, Yahya Zeb.
Central Districts:
Central Districts have made four changes to their contracts from last season with familiar faces to the Central jersey returning back to the contracted group.
Having lost their Blackcaps contracts, Ajaz Patel and Josh Clarkson were always destined to pick up domestic contracts whilst they join the returning Dean Foxcroft and Doug Bracewell to the initial 15 contracted group.
Bracewell handed back his contract last season to take up a season with the Joburg Super Kings, in South Africa’s SA20. Foxcroft returns to the group having played for the Stags in the 2018/19 season and brings his experience with the Otago Volts back to the group.
With the four arrivals to the contracting group, it means that there have been five losses for the Super Smash champions. Jack Boyle has made the move down south to Otago in the only player to have signed with another team yet.
Joey Field, Ewald Schreuder, Tyler Annand, and Mason Hughes have also all missed out on contracts for the season and will likely be vying for the 16th and final contract.
Experienced batters Dane Cleaver and Tom Bruce will be influential for the Stags once again with assistance from the young Curtis Heaphy in the batting department.
Brad Schmulian will provide support to the top order with his batting talents and occasional spin bowling, however that will likely be needed less with the spinners that the Stags have.
The spin bowlers will be led by Patel and Jayden Lennox whilst the all-rounders of Foxcroft and Angus Schaw give Central the strongest spin contingent in the country.
Blair Tickner, Brett Randell, and Ray Toole will once again lead the pace attack with youngster Toby Findlay looking to add to his success during last season’s Super Smash. All-rounders Clarskon and Will Clark will be of assistance throughout the season.
Central Stags: Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Will Clark, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Toby Findlay, Dean Foxcroft, Curtis Heaphy, Jayden Lennox, Ajaz Patel, Brett Randell, Angus Schaw, Brad Schmulian, Blair Tickner, Ray Toole.
Auckland Aces:
Auckland have sprung the changes with a clear focus towards youth in their initial contracting group.
Six players have been added to the Auckland contract list with Dale Phillips, Rohit Gulati, Harrish Kannan, Lachie Stackpole, Samrath Singh, and Sid Dixit all gaining contracts for Auckland.
Phillips has made the move from the deep south having represented Otago in over 130 games across the three formats since his debut in the 2019/20 season. Gulati made his debut last season for Northern across all three formats and replaces the retiring Louis Delport for the Aces.
Stackpole, Singh, and Dixit all made their debuts for Auckland last season whilst Kannan has yet to make his professional debut.
With the signing of six new players, it means that there have been departures from the Aces with the notable omission of Will O’Donnell from the contract list and bowler Danru Ferns who is off to the Volts. Adi Ashok has picked up a central contract whilst Harjot Johal, Quinn Sunde, and Michael Sclanders all weren’t offered first round contracts.
Cam Fletcher is the only contracted keeper in the squad whilst young talent Bevon Jacobs has been retained too.
Bowlers Matt Gibson, Angus Olliver, Ben Lister, and Jordan Sussex have all been retained in the contracting group. All-rounders Simon Keene who made a name for himself opening the batting last season, Sean Solia, and Jock McKenzie will all represent the Aces this season.
Auckland will be looking for more success this season having made the final of the Ford Trophy but lost to Canterbury at Otago’s University of Otago Oval.
Auckland Aces: Sid Dixit, Cam Fletcher, Matt Gibson, Rohit Gulati, Bevon Jacobs, Harrish Kannan, Simon Keene, Ben Lister, Jock McKenzie, Angus Olliver, Dale Phillips, Samrath Singh, Sean Solia, Lachie Stackpole, and Jordan Sussex.
Northern Districts:
Northern have one new face in their contracting with 18-year old Xavier Bell receiving his first contract whilst Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Pringle, and Zak Gibson return to the contracting list as well.
This does mean the departure from the contract list of five players with retired pace bowler Neil Wagner being one. Youngsters Snehith Reddy and Fergus Lellman drop off along with Scott Johnston and Freddy Walker.
Bell’s inclusion shows a clear stride to strengthen the batting lineup with some young talent and will have the support of the experienced Jeet Raval, Bharat Popli, Joe Carter, Henry Cooper, Robbie O’Donnell, and Katene Clarke.
The return of Pringle and Gibson from injury provide support to the bowling department with Pringle being the only contracted spinner in the squad. Gibson will work alongside Kristian Clarke, Matt Fisher, and Josh Brown as the pace bowling group.
All-round talent Brett Hampton and Scott Kuggeleijn will be looking to add power to the lineup whilst wicket-keeper Ben Pomare will want to back up his maiden summer of professional cricket.
Northern Districts: Xavier Bell, Josh Brown, Joe Carter, Katene Clarke, Kristian Clarke, Henry Cooper, Matthew Fisher, Zak Gibson, Brett Hampton, Scott Kuggeleijn, Robbie O’Donnell, Ben Pomare, Bharat Popli, Tim Pringle, Jeet Raval.