The first round of domestic cricket contracts were recently announced and while waiting for the second drop, this is a lovely excuse to whip up notes and nuggs for each team. Keep in mind that the contracts don't really matter to cricket fans as players have and will play lots of games without contracts. They do lay out each how each team is building their squad though and provide domestic cricket fizz.

Auckland

Cameron Fletcher returns to Auckland, filling the wicket-keeping hole left by Ben Horne's retirement. Fletcher and Horne were in the 2012 NZ Under 19 squad together, with Horne moving through the Auckland ranks while Fletcher went to Northern Districts and Canterbury. Now Fletcher is back and he will play a similar role to Horne with a steady presence in Plunket Shield, along with powerful hitting in Ford Trophy and Super Smash.

Harjot Johal bolsters Auckland's seam attack, although this is a weaker contracted seam group compared to other regions. How Johal and lefty Matt Gibson develop will be interesting, considering Simon Keene's journey so far...

• 2021/22 Plunket Shield: 25w @ 14.28avg

• 2022/23 Plunket Shield: 8w @ 49.62avg

Northern Districts

Northern are a bit of a cricketing mafia as they rarely recruit from outside their region and there aren't many departures. Along with Central they have the most settled group and above average veterans who can dominate the different formats. Funky youngsters Katene Clarke, Kristian Clarke, Tim Pringle, Matthew Fisher and Zak Gibson have featured in lots of domestic cricket yarns so tap in.

How Northern Brave Won Back To Back Super Smash Championships

Central Districts

Brett Randell did make a move from Northern to Central for last summer and continued his impressive mahi...

• 2022/23 Plunket Shield: 20w @ 24.55avg

• 2022/23 Ford Trophy: 18w @ 14.27avg

• 2022/23 Super Smash: 8w @ 39.61avg

Will Clarke is a bloke to watch out for after making his debut last summer. The 21-year-old has played less than five games in all three formats and doesn't have a 50+ score, but he does have averages of 33.5 (FC), 63 (LA) and 71 (T20). Add strike-rates of 116 (LA) and 124 (T20) for an intriguing all-rounder who is likely to sit behind Josh Clarkson, who delivered championship mahi last season.

2022/23 Ford Trophy: The Josh Clarkson Takeover And More Notes From The Final

2022/23 Plunket Shield: Central Districts Are Champions

Wellington

Muhammad Abbas is the most notable youngster to watch out for in Wellington's first round of contracts. Abbas made his debut last season and his first four games of Plunket Shield produced 453 runs @ 50.3avg. This was followed by a promotion to the NZ A who played against an Aussie A team where Abbas got a duck.

How Abbas settles into the grind will be interesting as he is yet to play Ford Trophy or Super Smash, but his funky hitting and lefty seam could be seen him breakout in the most visible Super Smash format. Gareth Severin and Callum McLachlan also scored runs as Wellington youngsters last season, with McLachlan operating as a wicket-keeper behind Tom Blundell.

Many of these youngsters made a quick impact, but like Keene for Auckland, Tim Robinson struggled to back up his impressive first season. Robinson averaged 61 in Plunket Shield before dipping down to 5.25 last summer and his Super Smash mahi went from 17.8avg down to 7.6avg.

Troy Johnson is another who fits this bracket, having two seasons averaging 50+ in First-Class and then dropping down to 16.9 last season. Johnson also had two seasons averaging 40+ in List-A before averaging 20.3 last summer.

Canterbury

Seamers in Canterbury's first round of contracts: Sean Davey, Zak Foulkes, Angus McKenzie, Ed Nuttall, Will O'Rourke, Michael Rae, Fraser Sheat, Henry Shipley.

Shipley is the best, while O'Rouke and Foulkes were impressive youngsters last season. O'Rourke played all three formats and fits the Shipley/Kyle Jamieson height package, while Foulkes oozes talent with his all-round abilities. Foulkes and Shipley have the highest all-rounder upside of Canterbury's seamers.

Wicket-keeper Mitch Hay benefits from Fletcher's departure and his batting was so good in previous seasons, Hay often played alongside Fletcher. Hay has seven 50+ scores in 15 FC innings with 643 runs @ 42.8avg and like Abbas, Hay was promoted to the NZ A vs Aussie A series. Unlike Abbas, Hay scored runs and his knock of 43 followed scores of 44, 11, 81, 7, 83, 89 and 98 in the final stanza of Plunket Shield.

Canterbury also recruited lefty-leggy Michael Rippon to replace lefty-leggy Blake Coburn who retired. Canterbury love a lefty-leggy.

Aotearoa A vs Australia A: Game One Debrief

Aotearoa A vs Australia A: Game Two Debrief

Otago

Luke Georgeson moves from Wellington to Otago and this is a nifty move for the all-rounder considering Wellington's crop of all-rounders. Abbas will be hunting game time in all three formats, Rachin Ravindra is one of the best spin bowling all-rounders in domestic cricket, Logan van Beek is one of the best seaming all-rounders in domestic cricket and Nathan Smith will be eager to put himself in that mixer.

Georgeson is a genuine all-rounder who will be hoping to find consistent runs and wickets. His best format for batting has been LA where he averages 39.4 and he has a 50+ score in all three formats, along with bowling averages below 40 in all three formats. Georgeson joins young Otago recruits from other regions in Dean Foxcroft, Dale Phillips, Thorn Parkes, Jake Gibson and Jarrod McKay.

Otago are building something, don’t stress. Foxcroft was the best batter in domestic cricket last season and his six scores over 50 in 14 innings of Plunket Shield, was matched by Parkes. Gibson showcased his hitting in Super Smash with 266 runs @ 33avg/148sr and Ben Lockrose also had a breakout Super Smash with 113 runs @ 56avg/191sr. Lockrose bowled in all three formats as a lefty spinner and he should benefit from Rippon's departure.

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