Neesham takes up domestic contract with Auckland

Jimmy Neesham has been contracted to Auckland for the 2026-27 domestic season. For the first time since 2021-2022, the 35-year-old all-rounder signs a domestic or international New Zealand Cricket (NZC) contract. Neesham, who is currently with Glamorgan for the T20 Blast in the UK, has made himself available for the one-day Ford Trophy and 20-over Super Smash competitions during the upcoming season.

While Neesham played the 2025-26 Ford Trophy for Auckland as a freelancer, he hasn't played a Super Smash game for them since 2023. Adi Ashok, a wristspinner who was denied a central contract with the Black Caps, is back on Auckland's books. Ashok traveled to Chennai to work out with former India offspinner R Ashwin during the winter in New Zealand.

Luke Watson, the son of former Auckland coach and South African batter Doug Watson, has earned his maiden contract with Auckland after playing two four-day Plunket Shield matches in the previous season.

After leading the Firebirds in each of the three formats, batsman Nick Kelly has returned to the Northern Districts from Wellington, where he is currently on tour with the Black Caps in the West Indies. Snehith Reddy, an all-rounder who played for New Zealand Under-19s before making his Plunket Shield debut, has signed his first ND contract, while veteran Jeet Raval has decided not to sign a contract this season.

For the upcoming season, the former Canterbury quick has switched teams to Wellington. After Michael Snedden announced his retirement from professional cricket last month, he is the new Firebird. Wellington may also have access to Devon Conway when national commitments permit, now that he is back on the Black Caps' contract list.

After emerging as one of the key performers for them during the previous season, Thomas O'Connor, the son of former New Zealand international Shayne O'Connor, has secured his first contract with Otago. Thomas, like his father, is a left-arm seamer. He took 13 wickets in the Plunket Shield match against Auckland at the Eden Park Outer Oval earlier this year and continued his excellent form to help Otago win the title.

It came down to a net-runs-per-wicket permutation based on runs-per-wicket for minus runs-per-wicket against across the entire season, and Canterbury was comfortably ahead on this permutation. Otago and Canterbury finished level on points and wins (four), which would have been the initial deciding factor. Instead, it came down to a net-runs-per-wicket permutation.

After making his Plunket and Ford Trophy debuts earlier this year, Lachie Harper signed his first Canterbury contract.

Central Districts, meanwhile, welcomed allrounder Jake Gibson from Otago and awarded batter Sam Cassidy his first contract at the province. After returning it the previous season and participating for Desert Vipers in the UAE's ILT20, which conflicted with the Super Smash, Tom Bruce is now a fully contracted player at CD.