Christchurch, October 5 (Udaipur Kiran) : Veteran all-rounder Michael Bracewell has chosen to take a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket, allowing him to participate in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) during the 2026-27 season. This decision will enable him to be more available for T20 leagues worldwide, although he emphasized that his primary focus remains on representing the New Zealand national team.
At 35 years old, Bracewell joins a list of players opting for casual contracts this season, which includes Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, and Tim Seifert. Following Bracewell’s decision to forgo his central contract, batsman Nick Kelly has been awarded his first central contract, marking a significant milestone in his career after nearly 11 years since his first-class debut. The 33-year-old left-handed batsman earned this achievement through consistent performances in domestic cricket.
Bracewell expressed that this opportunity is crucial at this stage of his career, thanking New Zealand Cricket for their support of his decision. He noted that since he only plays white-ball cricket, it would be unwise to pass up the chance to compete in the Big Bash.
Despite his new contract, Bracewell reiterated his commitment to the national team, expressing excitement about participating in the upcoming five-match T20 International series against India later this month. He also indicated his interest in playing in the new NZ20 tournament set to launch next year.
On the other hand, Nick Kelly’s new central contract is a significant accomplishment. He made his international debut for New Zealand in March 2025 and has played eight ODIs and seven T20Is, including two matches as captain when regular captain Tom Latham was injured during the Bangladesh tour.
Recently, Kelly returned from playing county cricket for Leicestershire in England, where he amassed a total of 950 runs across all formats, including a century in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup final against Middlesex. New Zealand’s head coach, Rob Walter, expressed his happiness for Kelly, noting that his consistent domestic performance has been rewarded with this contract.
Walter mentioned that players who reach the international level later often have a better understanding of their game and experience performing under pressure. He highlighted Kelly’s successful performances in challenging conditions against Bangladesh and the West Indies and praised him as one of the country’s best fielders, indicating that he will be a valuable asset to the team.
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