New Zealand’s six major associations have confirmed their 16-strong squads for the 2024-25 domestic summer.
Four of the final eight spots, announced on Monday by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) were offered to players from the recent NZ Under-19 programme.
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Major associations were able to name up to 15 players in the first round of contract announcements earlier this month, followed by a two-week official transfer window that allows uncontracted players the chance of assessing their options with another association.
Contracted players receive a retainer and form the core of each major association’s campaigns across the Plunket Shield, Ford Trophy and Super Smash, but uncontracted players typically also get chances to impress due to injury, rest and unavailability.
Otago are set to welcome another Cumming into their ranks with NZ U-19 spin-bowling all-rounder Zak Cumming offered the 16th contract, joining his brother Jacob on the list.
Canterbury's final contract was offered to talented up and coming all-rounder Cam Paul, who was ruled out of New Zealand's ICC U-19 World Cup campaign earlier this year after dislocating his shoulder at the national tournament.
Central Districts snapped up the services of Northern Districts and NZ U-19 pace-bowler Ewald Schreuder. The left-armer was New Zealand's top wicket-taker at the U-19 World Cup in South Africa.
The other new additions to the Central Districts list were Manawatu left-hand batsman Mason Hughes and long-serving Hawke's Bay captain Angus Schaw.
In the capital, the Wellington Firebirds offered top-order batsman Sam Mycock his first professional contract, following a prolific Provincial A season where he posted 485 runs from his six innings.
Northern Districts offered their final contract to 17-year-old spinning all-rounder Snehith Reddy.
Reddy, who is currently in his final year at Hamilton Boys' High School, was another star of the NZ U-19 side at the World Cup in South Africa and has impressed with both bat and ball in the ND pathway system.
The Auckland Aces final contract was offered to 30-year old Takapuna seamer Jordan Sussex, who announced himself on the domestic scene when he claimed 6-46 and 8-71 in the final two rounds of the Plunket Shield last season.
Two new coaches will be at the helm for the first time in the 2024-25 season, with former Black Cap and Auckland Ace Rob Nicol set to lead his old side in place of Doug Watson, who left to coach Scotland, while former Australian cricketer Ashley Noffke has taken over from Dion Ebrahim at Otago.
Nicol makes the move after two seasons as head coach of the Auckland Hearts and following stints as an assistant coach with the White Ferns.
The remaining four teams will have the same coaching set-ups as last season, with former Black Caps Peter Fulton and BJ Watling leading Canterbury and ND, respectively, while former Black Caps bowling coach Shane Jurgensen enters his second season in charge of Wellington.
Glenn Pocknall will again lead Central's Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy campaigns, with Ben Smith head coach for the Super Smash in the middle of summer.
DOMESTIC CRICKET SQUADS
NORTHERN DISTRICTS: Josh Brown, Joe Carter, Katene Clarke, Kristian Clarke, Henry Cooper, Matthew Fisher, Brett Hampton, Scott Johnston, Fergus Lellman, Robbie O'Donnell, Ben Pomare, Bharat Popli, Snehith Reddy, Jeet Raval, Neil Wagner, Freddy Walker
AUCKLAND: Adi Ashok, Louis Delport, Danru Ferns, Cam Fletcher, Matt Gibson, Bevon-John Jacobs, Harjot Johal, Simon Keene, Ben Lister, Jock McKenzie, Will O’Donnell, Mike Sclanders, Sean Solia, Quinn Sunde, Jordan Sussex, George Worker
CENTRAL DISTRICTS: Jack Boyle, Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Will Clark, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Joey Field, Curtis Heaphy, Mason Hughes, Jayden Lennox, Brett Randell, Angus Schaw, Brad Schmulian, Ewald Schreuder, Blair Tickner, Ray Toole
WELLINGTON: Liam Dudding, Nick Greenwood, James Hartshorn, Troy Johnson, Nick Kelly, Sam Mycock, Callum McLachlan, Iain McPeake, Tim Robinson, Gareth Severin, Michael Snedden, Nathan Smith, Peter Younghusband, Logan van Beek
CANTERBURY: Chad Bowes, Matt Boyle, Sean Davey, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Rhys Mariu, Kenny McClure, Cole McConchie, Angus McKenzie, Edward Nuttall, Cam Paul, Michael Rae, Michael Rippon, Matt Rowe, Fraser Sheat, Henry Shipley
OTAGO: Matt Bacon, Leo Carter, Max Chu, Jacob Cumming, Zak Cumming, Dean Foxcroft, Luke Georgeson, Jake Gibson, Andrew Hazeldine, Llew Johnson, Ben Lockrose, Jarrod McKay, Travis Muller, Thorn Parkes, Dale Phillips, Jamal Todd