Bracewell Drops Off NZC Central Contract as Nick Kelly Earns First National Deal
Michael Bracewell will move to a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket for the 2026-27 season, a switch that frees the 35-year-old all-rounder to pursue an opportunity in the Australian Big Bash League, NZC has confirmed.
The move means Bracewell joins Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne and Tim Seifert on New Zealand's list of casually contracted players. Despite stepping off the central contract list, he will remain available for the Blackcaps.
Bracewell Keeps Blackcaps Commitment
Bracewell said the support from the national board had been decisive in his decision to take up the overseas T20 opportunity at this stage of his career.
"The backing from New Zealand Cricket for me to take this opportunity at this stage of my career means a lot," Bracewell said. "As a white-ball only player, this felt like too good of an opportunity to pass up. I'm still very much committed to the Blackcaps and can't wait to be involved in the upcoming India tour and future white-ball series."
He added that he had his sights set on the domestic game as well, saying: "I've also got my eyes firmly fixed on the opportunity to be involved in the inaugural NZ20 which is set to be introduced from next summer."
Bracewell's immediate focus is the upcoming five-match T20I series against India, where he remains part of the New Zealand white-ball setup.
Nick Kelly Rewarded With Maiden Central Contract
Bracewell will be replaced on the central contract list by Northern Districts batter Nick Kelly, who has earned his first national contract 11 years after making his first-class debut. Kelly, 33, made his international debut in March 2025 and has since played eight ODIs and seven T20Is.
He also led New Zealand in two T20Is against Bangladesh earlier this year after stepping in for the injured Tom Latham, and recently returned from a stint with Leicestershire, where he scored 950 runs across formats. He struck his sixth List A century in the One Day Cup final against Middlesex.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter, who coached Kelly for two seasons at Otago, said the batter's consistency in domestic cricket had earned him the deal.
"Nick's been a standout performer in domestic cricket for several seasons now and it's testament to his hard work that he's earned this first contract at this stage of his career," Walter said. "Introducing players like Nick to international cricket a bit later certainly has its advantages in terms of the player knowing their game and being able to trust themselves to perform under pressure."
Kelly has scored three fifties in his last four ODIs, and Walter believes that form — plus his experience — will add value to the contracted group.
"Nick stuck his hand up with his performances against Bangladesh and the West Indies in what was at times challenging batting conditions," Walter said. "He has more than 300 professional matches under his belt and is one of the best fielders in the country, so he adds a lot to our contracted group."
With Bracewell shifting to a casual arrangement and Kelly stepping up, New Zealand's contract list reflects a squad balancing overseas T20 opportunities for its senior white-ball players with the integration of a late-blooming domestic performer.