Blair Tickner and Devon Conway are back in contention for New Zealand Cricket's central contracts, with both named in the 20-player squad for the upcoming 2026-27 season as of this Wednesday announcement.
New Zealand Cricket has announced that top-order batsman Devon Conway and fast bowler Blair Tickner will be part of their 20-player central contract list for the upcoming 2026-27 season starting this week.
Related ↗Garrick Higgo's absence from the U.S. Open explained by a surprising reason.Conway's return to full contract status comes after a two-year stint as a casual player for NZC, allowing him to compete in international franchise events before rejoining the central contracts pool this year.
Impressive showings in various formats by Tickner have secured his spot back on the NZ central contracts list.
Read next ↗Sri Lanka series sees return of Joseph and Da Silva to the West Indies team.Head coach Rob Walter praises Blair's dedication, stating that he has significantly elevated his skills over recent years through immense effort.
Maintaining a robust bowling pool is crucial for New Zealand cricket, particularly given the upcoming year's intense schedule of Test matches, and having Blair committed full-time will undoubtedly contribute to this goal.
Conway's ability to be available on a full-time basis has been a significant plus, especially following Williamson's decision to retire as captain.
With Devon's consistent performance across formats, it's no surprise he's been a staple in the team for quite some time. His return to a central contract is a welcome boost as the squad prepares for an action-packed schedule ahead.
Tickner and Conway's inclusion means Adithya Ashok and Muhammad Abbas are no longer on the NZ central contracts roster.
Both Michael Bracewell and Mark Chapman sought inclusion as white-ball specialists in the NZC's central contracts.
The New Zealand central contract list has been updated to include several key players. Among them are Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, and Mark Chapman, who have secured their spots alongside Devon Conway and others. The list now totals 20 individuals, with notable additions including Zak Foulkes and Mitchell Hay.
