New Zealand's central contract announcement marks big reshuffle after Kane Williamson's retirement

Devon Conway and Blair Tickner have been named in New Zealand’s pool of 20 centrally contracted players for the 2026-27 season, replacing Adithya Ashok and Muhammad Abbas. Conway has committed to all international fixtures during the upcoming contracting period (August 1, 2026-July 31, 2027), after spending the past two years on a casual playing agreement.

Right‑arm seamer Tickner earns his spot on the back of consistent performances across formats, including his maiden international five‑wicket haul in the one‑off Test against Ireland at Stormont.

Veteran batter Kane Williamson, who was also on a casual playing agreement, recently retired from international cricket and is therefore absent from the new contracts list.

Meanwhile, spin‑bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell and batter Mark Chapman requested not to be ranked in Test cricket and have been included solely as white‑ball specialists.

New Zealand's head coach, Rob Walter, expressed pleasure at the return of both Conway and Tickner as part of the central contract list.

“Blair has worked extremely hard over the past few years and added new levels to his game,” Walter said in a press release issued by New Zealand Cricket.

"He’s an excellent team man and has stepped into various roles for the side over the past few months and excelled in them.

“It’s important we continue to nurture that depth in our bowling stocks, especially with a heavy diet of red-ball cricket over the next 12 months, so to have Blair contracted full-time will help maintain that depth.

“Devon has been a regular member of the side in all three formats for some time now, even whilst on a casual contract, so it’s great to have a player of his calibre back on the central contract list, especially with the amount of exciting cricket coming up.”

New Zealand Central Contract List (2026-27)

Tom Blundell (Wellington), Michael Bracewell (Wellington), Mark Chapman (Auckland), Devon Conway (Wellington), Jacob Duffy (Otago), Zak Foulkes (Canterbury), Mitch Hay (Canterbury), Matt Henry (Canterbury), Kyle Jamieson (Canterbury), Tom Latham (Canterbury), Daryl Mitchell (Canterbury), Henry Nicholls (Canterbury), Will O’Rourke (Canterbury), Glenn Phillips (Otago), Rachin Ravindra (Wellington), Mitchell Santner (Northern Districts), Ben Sears (Wellington), Nathan Smith (Wellington), Blair Tickner (Central Districts), Will Young (Central Districts)