New Zealand have picked several casually contracted cricketers ahead of their regular T20I players for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
What are New Zealand Cricket’s casual contracts?
Like their counterparts around the world, New Zealand Cricket offers central contracts to a group of cricketers. However, cricketers can choose between the usual full-time contracts and casual contracts.
Unlike most other major nations, New Zealand never had a franchise-run city-based league. The Super Smash, their most high-profile T20 tournament, follows their domestic structure and has the same teams. Meanwhile, New Zealand cricketers are allowed to play franchise leagues around the world, which obviously reduces their availability to play for the national side.
By accepting a casual contract, cricketers need to commit to only a certain number of international matches including the upcoming T20 World Cup. That enables them to simultaneously pursue international and franchise careers. Casual contracts also enable them to remain part of New Zealand’s international setup, including coaching, medical assistance, and access to gym and cricket facilities.
“To be eligible for the casual playing agreement, the players were required to commit themselves to the BLACKCAPS upcoming ICC T20 World Cup campaign, including being available for a specified number of series and games in the build-up to the tournament in India in February and March," New Zealand Cricket explained on September 15, 2025.
When New Zealand Cricket announced the list of central contracts in June 2025, seniors like Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert, Lockie Ferguson, and Finn Allen had opted out. They subsequently took up casual contracts as and when they were offered.
News | Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Seifert and Kane Williamson have agreed terms to play on NZC international casual playing agreements for the 2025-26 season.
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 14, 2025
Story | https://t.co/jaoc6hCZ8V pic.twitter.com/Q6xOT7NaKs
How do casual contracts affect New Zealand’s regular cricketers?
New Zealand picked Conway, Seifert, Allen, and Ferguson (but not Williamson) in their squad for the T20 World Cup. Of New Zealand’s 22 T20Is in 2025, Seifert played 16, Conway 12, Allen five, and Ferguson none. Jimmy Neesham (14) and Adam Milne (3), who did not get even the casual contract, were also included.
In fact, since October 1, 2025 (their last three series), Seifert has played six of the 11 games, Conway eight, and Neesham nine, while Allen, Milne, or Ferguson have not played any.
On the other hand, Tim Robinson (15) and the centrally contracted Zak Foulkes (11) missed out.
Robinson had a reasonable year, scoring 402 runs at a strike rate of 145 while averaging 44.67. These included a 57-ball unbeaten 75 not out to lift New Zealand from 70-5 to 173-5 (eventually a decisive score) and a 66-ball 106 not out against Australia.
Foulkes, on the other hand, had 10 wickets at 28.80 while going at 8.90 an over. These included spells of 3-0-11-1 and 4-0-25-3 in the space of a week against Pakistan, and 3-0-12-0 against South Africa.
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
