2026-27 New Zealand domestic season

[_Ed_]

Kelly to ND.

Nick Kelly Announces Departure from Wellington Firebirds

Wellington Firebirds captain Nick Kelly has announced he will move on from Cricket Wellington following four...

www.cricketwellington.co.nz

But an interesting newcomer among the Wellington contracts.

 

[Mike5181]

Henry Shipley on the Wellington list is interesting. Last game he played was 18th of February last year.

 

[ataraxia]

ND now hog all the typical early 30s guys who captain and bat #4 (J Carter, R O'Donnell, Kelly). I sure hope Kelly's replacing Popli, not forcing his retirement; even in their logjam, he should play ahead of Cooper or O'Donnell.

Either Canterbury have given up on Shipley or he's given up on them.

 

[ataraxia]

Auckland:

ND:

CD:

Canterbury:

Otago:

 

[jcas0167]

Neesham back with a domestic contact. I wonder if he will be available for red ball cricket for Akl? Given the number of injuries on the England tour maybe he could get a test call-up if players continue to drop.

 

[ataraxia]

Cliffs:

• Neesham returns to his first contract in NZ since 2021–22; will play white-ball only
• Second leading wicket-taker last Super Smash, Harjot Johal, can't make a stacked Auckland contract list
• Rohit Gulati changes name to Rohit Kumar
• Raval "opted not to take a contract". I think he's retiring quietly.
• Jake Gibson to CD
• Bruce back to full contract
• Schaw, Clark snubbed
• Rippon loses contract
• Hazeldine (who has accordingly moved back to Christchurch), Llew Johnson (who has accordingly left Otago) out for Thomas O'Connor, Tom Jones

 

[vandem]

Raval "opted not to take a contract". I think he's retiring quietly.

IIRC CD players gave Raval a guard of honour when he left the field after final Plunket Shield game last year.

 

[SteveNZ]

SHIP!!

 

[Immenso]

Well deserved for Laxhie Harper , IMO.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

There's some awful moustaches in that Wellington line up. If Shipley can stay fit, if he still has a decent game then he should be a massive upgrade on Snedden.

 

[Skyliner]

What’s Hugo Bogue up to this year?

 

[Smudge]

What’s Hugo Bogue up to this year?

Still one contract spot left for Otago. The ODT suggests it'll be Bogue, Toby Hart or Ruben Clinton.

 

[DougieRydal]

Cliffs:

• Neesham returns to his first contract in NZ since 2021–22; will play white-ball only
• Second leading wicket-taker last Super Smash, Harjot Johal, can't make a stacked Auckland contract list
• Rohit Gulati changes name to Rohit Kumar
• Raval "opted not to take a contract". I think he's retiring quietly.
• Jake Gibson to CD
• Bruce back to full contract
• Schaw, Clark snubbed
• Rippon loses contract
• Hazeldine (who has accordingly moved back to Christchurch), Llew Johnson (who has accordingly left Otago) out for Thomas O'Connor, Tom Jones

Rippon retired, Canty posted this a few weeks back

 

[kaetor]

Very glad to see the Ship back, I rate him highly and hope that the injuries haven't set back his abilities too much.

 

[Howsie]

India A to tour New Zealand in August ahead of senior series

India A will undertake a shadow tour of New Zealand ahead of the senior team’s multi-format series in the country, with the itinerary comprising three List A matches and two first-class games that could feature a handful of players from the national Test squad.

sportstar.thehindu.com

Interesting

 

[ataraxia]

August???

 

[ataraxia]

I think having Suryavanshi stand about freezing to death in mid-winter sideways rain at the Basin counts as child abuse.

 

[Immenso]

Jeeezus, August.

That is aspirational.

I'd guess it will be 100% Blake Park. Lincoln surely out at that time of year.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Do a short term deal with the Cook Islands and put a wicket up there. August is apparently the ‘driest and coolest’ month of the year for Rarotonga!

 

[ataraxia]

Jeeezus, August.

That is aspirational.

I'd guess it will be 100% Blake Park. Lincoln surely out at that time of year.

Cobham Oval is cricket-only, so it might be an option. Presumably they'll have to use two venues or it will become mud.