Dale Phillips moves to Auckland; Tim Seifert opts for casual contract with ND

Dale Phillips has switched to Auckland from Otago, but his brother Glenn Phillips will remain with Otago and will be available between his international commitments for New Zealand.

This will be Dale's first stint with Auckland's senior side, having played for them at age-group level before shifting to Otago.

Dale, 26, was recently in Chennai to train at the Super Kings Academy, expanding his range of shots especially against spin. Prior to the Chennai camp, Dale was part of the New Zealand A team that beat Bangladesh A 1-0 in the two-match unofficial Test series in Bangladesh.

He was also the second-highest run-getter in the 2024-25 Ford Trophy, with 457 runs in ten innings at an average of 45.70 and strike rate of 86.38.

Hard-hitting batter Bevon Jacobs, who was part of Mumbai Indians in the IPL and MI Emirates in the UAE's ILT20 league, has also signed a domestic contract with Auckland. Rohit Gulati, the former Northern Districts fingerspinner, has now moved to Auckland and will fill the void created by the retirement of Louis Delport.

Harrish Kannan, who had left Australia for New Zealand, was among four new faces on the Auckland contracts list for the first round.

Auckland contracted players: Sid Dixit, Cam Fletcher, Matt Gibson, Rohit Gulati , Bevon Jacobs, Harrish Kannan, Simon Keene, Ben Lister, Jock McKenzie, Angus Olliver, Dale Phillips, Samrath Singh, Sean Solia, Lachie Stackpole, Jordan Sussex

Leo Carter has left Otago to turn out for Canterbury in the upcoming domestic season. Carter, who smashed six sixes in an over during a Super Smash game in 2020, bolsters a top order, which already includes Chad Bowes, Matt Boyle and Rhys Mariu.

Former New Zealand Under-19 wicketkeeper-batter Jesse Frew and batter Scott Janett, who hit a century on List A debut earlier this year, are the new inclusions in Canterbury's contract list.

Canterbury contracted players: Chad Bowes, Matt Boyle, Leo Carter, Jesse Frew, Scott Janett, Rhys Mariu, Cole McConchie, Angus Mckenzie, Cam Paul, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Michael Rae, Michael Rippon, Matt Rowe, Fraser Sheat

Big-hitting allrounder Dean Foxcroft has returned to Central Districts and is set to represent them for the first time since 2019. Having ended his stint with Otago, Foxcroft is available for the upcoming Global Super League (GSL) in Guyana, where the Super Smash champions will compete with four other T20 teams, including hosts Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Allrounder Doug Bracewell is also back on the contract list and will turn out for the side in the GSL. Bracewell had turned down a domestic contract last season to make himself available for Joburg Super Kings in the SA20.

With Central Districts' regular T20 coach Ben Smith away with Derbyshire in the UK, Craig McMillian, the assistant coach of New Zealand women, will take charge in the GSL.

Central Districts contracted players: Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Will Clark, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Toby Findlay, Dean Foxcroft, Curtis Heaphy, Jayden Lennox, Ajaz Patel, Brett Randell, Angus Schaw, Brad Schmulian, Blair Tickner, Ray Toole

Wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert has opted for a casual contract for a second successive season to pursue opportunities in franchise cricket, while fast bowler Scott Kuggeleijn is back on Northern Districts' books after having taken a casual contract himself last season.

Left-arm fingerspin-bowling allrounder Tim Pringle, who had missed the last summer with injury, also returns to the contracts list after undergoing ankle surgery. Pringle, 22, was also part of the camp at the Super Kings Academy as he eased his way back into action both with ball and bat. His last competitive game was in the 2024 T20 World Cup in June last year for Netherlands.

Teen prodigy Xavier Bell, who has piled on the runs at district association, club and age-group levels, has earned his maiden contract.

ND contracted players: Xavier Bell, Josh Brown, Joe Carter, Katene Clarke, Kristan Clarke, Henry Cooper, Matthew Fisher, Zak Gibson, Brett Hampton, Scott Kuggeleijn, Robbie O'Donnell, Ben Pomare, Bharat Popli, Tim Pringle, Jeet Raval

Danru Ferns (transfer from Auckland), Jack Boyle (transfer from Central Districts), Troy Johnson (transfer from Wellington) and former New Zealand Under-19 seamer Mason Clarke have all accepted their first contracts with Otago.

Otago contracted players Matt Bacon, Jack Boyle, Max Chu, Mason Clarke, Jacob Cumming, Danru Ferns, Luke Georgeson, Jake Gibson, Andrew Hazeldine, Llew Johnson, Troy Johnson, Ben Lockrose, Jarrod McKay, Thorn Parkes, Jamal Todd

Samuel Morgan and Amogh Paranjpe are the new faces on Wellington's books. Paranjpe, a seamer from Hutt District Cricket Club, had bagged a match haul of ten wickets to lead his club to the Pearce Cup red-ball title earlier this year.

Wellington contracted players: Liam Dudding, Nick Greenwood, James Hartshorn, Nick Kelly, Callum McLachlan, Samuel Morgan, Sam Mycock, Amogh Paranjpe, Tim Robinson, Gareth Severin, Michael Snedden, Jesse Tashkoff, Logan van Beek, Peter Younghusband, Yahya Zeb

Gary Stead's first assignment after stepping down as New Zealand men's head coach will be with Otago.

Stead will take over from Ashley Noffke as interim coach and will work with Otago's players during the winter. Noffke has stepped down to join Pakistan's support staff. Stead will begin his new stint with Otago on June 30.

"Otago have a strong playing roster and some exciting young players who have had a very good season," Stead said in an Otago Cricket statement. "It excites me to have the chance to help these young players and the more experienced players continue to grow, and to be in a position to give back to the domestic game."