Tuesday 27 October 2026Tue 27 Oct
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Nick Kelly replaces Michael Bracewell on NZ Cricket central contract list

1NewsStuffRNZMonday 5 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated

In this story Black Caps, New Zealand Cricket, Michael Bracewell, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Seifert, Mark Chapman

Photo: 1News (opens in new tab)

Michael Bracewell will move to a casual contract for the 2026-27 season to pursue opportunities in the Australian Big Bash League. Northern Districts batter Nick Kelly will take Bracewell's place on the central contracts list. Bracewell is the latest Black Caps player to make this transition.

Key facts

5 facts
  • Michael Bracewell is 35 years old.StuffRNZ
  • Nick Kelly is 33 years old.1NewsStuff
  • Bracewell will play in a five-game T20 series against India later this month.Stuff
  • Kelly made his Black Caps debut in March 2025.1NewsStuff
  • Kelly has 15 international caps, consisting of 8 ODIs and 7 T20Is.1NewsStuff

The full story

1 min read · 3 outlets

Michael Bracewell will move to a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket for the 2026-27 season. The 35-year-old allrounder is making the move to pursue an opportunity in the Australian Big Bash League.1NewsStuffRNZ

Nick Kelly will replace Bracewell on the central contracts list. The 33-year-old Northern Districts batter earns his first national contract 11 years after making his first-class debut.1NewsStuffRNZ

Bracewell joins Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, and Tim Seifert as the other casually contracted players for the 2026-27 season. Bracewell has captained New Zealand 13 times.1NewsStuffRNZ

Black Caps head coach Rob Walter said it was pleasing to reward Kelly with his first contract. Walter noted that Kelly has scored three half-centuries in his last four ODIs.1NewsStuff

How it developed

  • Tue 6 Oct, 7:59amBracewell has captained New Zealand 13 times.RNZ

Where reports differ

  • Report 1 attributes a quote about the opportunity to Kelly, while reports 2 and 3 attribute the same quote to Bracewell.1NewsStuffRNZ

Compiled from reports by 1News, Stuff and RNZ.

How they headlined it

First reported by 1News, Mon 5 Oct, 4:31pm · 3 reports from 3 outlets over 15 hours
  1. 1News1News

    Black Caps: Kelly replaces Bracewell on NZC central contract list (opens in new tab)

  2. StuffStuff

    Black Caps allrounder Michael Bracewell joins exodus to casual contract with NZ Cricket (opens in new tab)

  3. RNZRNZ

    Black Caps veteran Michael Bracewell moves to casual contract (opens in new tab)