NZ Cricket awards central contracts to Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson

Promising all-rounders Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson have been awarded

central contracts

by

New Zealand Cricket

(NZC) for the first time. They fill the vacancies left by Devon Conway and Finn Allen in the 20-member list.
Clarkson debuted against Bangladesh in Dunedin last year, and Smith excelled in the most recent Plunket Shield season for Wellington. The two spots became available after Conway and Allen declined their offers, with Conway joining Joburg Super Kings in the SAT20 league and agreeing to a casual contract with NZC.
Clarkson has played three ODIs and six T20Is for the

Black Caps

.

Smith emerged as a standout performer at the domestic level for Wellington. Their inclusion in the central contract list highlights their potential to make a significant impact on the international stage in the coming months.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead praised Smith and Clarkson for earning their contracts. Expressing confidence in their potential, Stead said, "Nathan's been on our radar for a while, having been a significant performer in domestic cricket for some time. 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 will provide depth and adds value given the volume of white-ball cricket on the horizon."

Both Smith and Clarkson have experience playing for New Zealand at the Under-19 level, having participated in the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh. They join fellow contracted players Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and Ben Sears, who were also part of that Under-19 squad, in securing their first central contracts.
NZC's decision to award central contracts to Smith and Clarkson underscores the board's belief in their future potential, as these young players seek to establish themselves on the international stage.
NEW ZEALAND CENTRAL CONTRACT 2024-25: 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.