Michael Bracewell will shift to a casual contract with NZC for the remainder of the 2026/27 season to pursue an opportunity in the Big Bash.
Nick Kelly earns a maiden central contract and will replace Bracewell. This will open up a spot at Northern Districts.
ANALYSIS: The proposed NZ20 domestic cricket competition is facing an uncertain future - before it's even begun.
The Post understands the New Zealand Cricket board scheduled an out-of-cycle meeting on Friday morning amid suggestions the planned T20 franchise tournament - which is aiming to attract financial backers from overseas - could now be delayed for a second year.
The controversial revamped competition had initially hoped to have its launch in January 2027, but it was announced in May by the governing body that it was considered too tight a deadline, with the inaugural competition instead aiming at the 2027/2028 season.
Now, The Post understands there are further doubts over its start date, amid concerns over a lack of a primary investment partner and ownership of the respective franchises.
A joint statement from NZC and NZ20 in response to questions from The Post about the prospect of further delays to the competition launch, said: “Commercial discussions of this nature are confidential, and neither New Zealand Cricket nor NZ20 will comment on individual parties or the status of particular discussions.
“New Zealand Cricket and NZ20 continue to work towards launching the competition in the 2027/28 season.”
Former chief executive Scott Weenink stepped down from that role last December, saying he held a different view from several member associations, and the NZCPA (Players’ Association), on the future priorities for NZC, including the best role for T20 cricket in New Zealand.
In March, former Black Cap Dion Nash left the NZC board, saying he could no longer align with the future direction of the organisation.
Those questioning the ability of starting a franchise domestic T20 competition in New Zealand have doubts over the market for such a tournament, competition for players and funding from other T20 leagues around the world during a similar time-frame, and the financial risk should NZC have an ownership interest as planned.
In March, NZC had announced the privately-funded NZ20 model as their preferred option for the future of the local game, over keeping, or tinkering with, the Super Smash, or entering a Kiwi team in Australia’s men’s and women’s Big Bash Leagues.
“This revised timeline gives us the best opportunity to build a world-class competition that New Zealanders can be proud of and that fans deserve,” NZ20 establishment committee chair Don Mackinnon said at the time.
The existing Super Smash competition for the six men’s and women’s major associations will remain in place this summer, but is without previous naming sponsor Dream11, due to changes in India’s gambling laws.
Only 24 of the 64 Super Smash matches scheduled to be play in the 2026/27 season will be broadcast, across 12 double-header match-days this summer, including the finals.
Last month, The Post reported that grassroots cricket administrators had expressed concerns over a lack of information surrounding an expensive report provided to NZC.
Some district association chairs want access to a Deloitte Sports Business Group report on the options advised to NZC on the future of its domestic T20 competition.
It’s understood the organisation spent upwards of $500,000 to get those options covered, and then proceeded with a proposal not supported by Deloitte’s advice - opting to make an in-principle decision to support the establishment of the proposed NZ20 competition.
Leading Black Caps players - including test captain Tom Latham and three-format regulars Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra - have been vocal supporters of the NZ20 concept.
However, a string of Black Caps T20 players have signed deals to play in Australia’s BBL - which runs from December 12 to January 26 - which could lead to the BBL franchises having an upper hand in securing their services for following seasons.
Cricket Australia’s board has recently formally agreed to allow states to take their BBL clubs to market to sell stakes, or the club entirely, to private investors.
Dean Brownlie, who has been the WHITE FERNS batting coach for nearly four years, will step in as interim head coach for the tour following Ben Sawyer’s departure.
Morning all,
The ICC's new playing conditions came into effect yesterday (Oct 1), and they finally spell out what an overthrow actually is — plus tighten when a fielder counts as "holding" the ball for a run-out.
I run CricketOnAir (cricket viewing guides), and our two mascot characters — the Bails — now star in an 8-part animated explainer. Each clip is ~5 seconds: the situation, what happens, then the verdict with the law quoted on screen.
The 8 scenarios:
Full write-up with the exact ICC/MCC wording and sources: https://cricketonair.com/guides/overthrow-rule-and-deflection-run-outs-explained/
Genuinely happy to be corrected if I've misread any of the new wording — and yes, the umpire's opinion on intent still rules the day.
Cheers!
