Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson receive their first New Zealand Cricket central contracts, replacing Devon Conway and Finn Allen.

Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson has received their first NZC central contracts

Smith was awarded Men’s Domestic Player of the Year at the NZC Awards in March © Getty

New Zealand Cricket has awarded their first central contracts to all-rounders Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson, who will replace Devon Conway and Finn Allen, who opted out to focus on franchise cricket opportunities.

Smith, 26, was named Men’s Domestic Player of the Year at the NZC Awards in March.

He excelled in the Plunket Shield, leading the competition with 33 wickets at an average of 17, including career-best first-class figures of 6 for 36 against Canterbury.

Smith continued his strong performance in white-ball cricket, taking 11 wickets in the Ford Trophy and 13 wickets in the Super Smash.

Clarkson, 27, made his white-ball debut for New Zealand last December and has since played in three ODIs and six T20Is.

He gained prominence following a successful 2022-23 domestic season, contributing significantly to Central Stags’ victories in both the Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy.

Both Smith and Clarkson were part of the New Zealand Under-19 World Cup squad that competed in Bangladesh, alongside Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and Ben Sears.

“Nathan has been on our radar for some time due to his consistent domestic performances,” said head coach Gary Stead.

“His impressive red-ball skills suggest he has the potential to succeed internationally when given the opportunity.”

“Josh has made significant strides over the past year, being involved in both white-ball squads,” Stead added.

“He is a dynamic player with a range of skills, and his performances have shown that he can make valuable contributions with both bat and ball at the international level.”

“Josh will provide additional depth and value given the upcoming volume of white-ball cricket.”

NZC central contracts list: 

Player Name
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

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