Josh Clarkson and Nathan Smith secure their first Central Contracts with the Blackcaps
All-rounders Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson have earned their first central contracts with New Zealand, filling the void of Devon Conway and Finn Allen on the 20-player roster. Both have had standout performances in domestic cricket, excelling in the Plunket Shield and County competitions.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced on their official website the inclusion of Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson in the Blackcaps' central contract roster. Smith, who had an exceptional year, received the Men’s Domestic Player of the Year award at the ANZ NZC Awards. The 26-year-old was instrumental in the Wellington Firebirds' successful Plunket Shield campaign, topping the bowling charts with 33 wickets at an impressive average of 17. His standout performance, including a remarkable 6/36 against Canterbury, highlights his exceptional skill and potential. Smith also delivered a memorable spell of 4/5 against the Otago Volts in Alexandra, which was the best bowling performance in last season’s men’s T20 competition.
On the other hand, Clarkson, renowned for his explosive batting and dependable bowling, made his international debut in late 2022 and has since represented the Blackcaps in both ODI and T20I formats. His rise to prominence was marked by an outstanding domestic season, where his all-round performance was key to the Central Stags' successes in both the Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy.
Both players have a notable history in New Zealand cricket, having previously represented the nation at the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh.
Blackcaps head coach Gary Stead commented on the elevation of Smith and Clarkson and said, “Nathan’s been on our radar for a while having been a significant performer in domestic cricket for some time. He’s been particularly impressive in red-ball cricket and we think he has the skills to be successful in international cricket when he gets a chance.“
Talking about Clarkson, the New Zealand head coach added, “Josh has been involved in both white ball squads over the past twelve months which shows the strides he’s made in his game. He’s a hard-hitting player with plenty of skills and has shown in his chances so far that he can offer a lot with bat and ball on the international stage.”
Cricket Wellington and Central Districts will announce updates regarding replacements for Smith and Clarkson on their respective domestic contract lists in due course.
Blackcaps 2024-25 central contracts: Tom Blundell (Wellington), Michael Bracewell (Wellington), Mark Chapman (Auckland), Josh Clarkson (Central Districts), Jacob Duffy (Otago), Matt Henry (Canterbury), Kyle Jamieson (Canterbury), Tom Latham (Canterbury), Daryl Mitchell (Canterbury), Henry Nicholls (Canterbury), Will O’Rourke (Canterbury), Ajaz Patel (Central Districts), Glenn Phillips (Otago), Rachin Ravindra (Wellington), Mitchell Santner (Northern Districts), Ben Sears (Wellington), Nathan Smith (Wellington), Ish Sodhi (Canterbury), Tim Southee (Northern Districts), Will Young (Central Districts)
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