New Zealand awards central contracts to Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has awarded central contracts to allrounders Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson, following the recent decision of Devon Conway and Finn Allen to decline their contracts in favor of T20 league opportunities.
Nathan Smith, a 26-year-old from Wellington, has impressed with his performances in domestic cricket. Last season, he was a key player in the Firebirds’ Plunket Shield victory, topping the competition’s wicket-taking charts with 33 wickets at an average of 17, including a career-best 6-36 against Canterbury. His white-ball performances were equally noteworthy, with 11 wickets in the Ford Trophy and 13 wickets in the Super Smash, including the best T20 figures of the season with 4-5 against the Otago Volts.
Head coach Gary Stead commented, “Nathan has been on our radar for some time due to his significant domestic performances. He’s particularly impressed in red-ball cricket, and we believe he has the potential to succeed at the international level when given the opportunity.”
Josh Clarkson, 27, has represented New Zealand in three ODIs and six T20Is since making his debut against Bangladesh in December. Clarkson’s inclusion follows a successful domestic season in 2022-23, where his all-round performances were instrumental in the Central Stags’ Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy victories.
Stead added, “Josh has made substantial progress over the past year, evidenced by his involvement in both white-ball squads. He’s a powerful player with valuable skills and has demonstrated his ability to contribute with both bat and ball on the international stage. His addition will provide depth, especially with the heavy white-ball schedule ahead.”
Looking ahead, New Zealand will play a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida starting September 7, followed by a tour of Sri Lanka for two Tests and a series in India featuring three Tests.
The New Zealand central contracts for the 2024-25 season are:
Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.
