First Round of 2024/25 Firebirds Contracts Announced

After lifting the Plunket Shield to close out a successful 2023/24 summer, the Firebirds have retained the bulk of their players on domestic contracts as the squad looks to build on a winning year.

Of the 15 contracts announced today as a part of Round 1 of domestic men’s contracts, 14 are returning players from last season, as the core of the Plunket Shield-winning team is set to return for another summer.

As Rachin Ravindra and Ben Sears have been offered national contracts, two regional contract spots have been opened and will continue to add quality depth to an already stocked Firebirds system.

Pace bowler Liam Dudding was announced yesterday as a new signing, making the move from the Central Stags. The coaching staff view Dudding as a key pacer in the attack, with new ball skills that are in-demand, particularly with the retirement of Ollie Newton last summer.

Head Coach Shane Jurgensen is pleased with how his team is shaping up for his first full season in charge.

“We believe we’ve got a strong group of guys here”, said Jurgensen.

“It’s got a familiar look to last year with a nice mix of experienced guys and skilled younger players that will drive this team in the long-term,”

“I’m really excited to see what this group of guys can do; we believe we’ve got a great culture here and that our guys love playing for each other.”

Jurgensen believes the promotions of Sears and Ravindra are signs of things to come.

“We’re so happy for Rachin and Searsy going up to the Blackcaps, and we think we’ve got a few more guys who can make that jump soon,” he said.

“It’s important for us to have that mindset in place, where we want to make these guys international-calibre cricketers to keep the the standard high both here [in Wellington] and for the national team.”

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Of the players that featured for the Firebirds strongly in 2023/24, Adam Milne will be available on a casual basis after he turned down a BLACKCAPS contract for 2024/25, and Ollie Newton has retired, after being on a casual playing agreement last summer.

The Firebirds have retained their championship-winning side from last summer, with key contributors like Nick Kelly, Nathan Smith, Muhammad Abbas, and Gareth Severin returning to the fold.

Bowlers Peter Younghusband, Iain McPeake, Michael Snedden, and James Hartshorn are all retained, bringing a familiar yet formidable look to the bowling attack.

All-rounder Logan van Beek returns for another year in the capital, having featured overseas both with the Netherlands national team and various franchise leagues around the globe this winter.

Callum McLachlan will be a strong candidate for the gloves, as the only full-time wicketkeeper on the contracts list, though Tom Blundell (BLACKCAPS contracted) will likely be available to the team for some of the summer.

Batsmen Tim Robinson, Nick Greenwood, and Troy Johnson are all retained, with each player contributing as part of a strong young batting core that the Firebirds enjoyed throughout the summer.

Jesse Tashkoff, announced as the 16th contracted Firebird last year, has been included this season amongst the first 15 announced.

As such, the team’s 16th contract will see another Firebird added to the ranks, with a squad that will total 21 professionally contracted cricketers, including the team’s BLACKCAPS.

The sixteenth and final Firebirds contract will be announced on July 29th.

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The 2024/25 First-Round Contracts for the Wellington Firebirds are:

Muhammad Abbas (Karori CC)

Liam Dudding (Hawke’s Bay)

Nick Greenwood (Taita District)

James Hartshorn (Karori CC)

Troy Johnson (Hutt District)

Nick Kelly (Johnsonville CC)

Callum McLachlan (Upper Hutt United)

Iain McPeake (Hutt District)

Tim Robinson (Onslow CC)

Gareth Severin (Johnsonville CC)

Michael Snedden (Karori CC)

Nathan Smith (Johnsonville CC)

Peter Younghusband (Karori CC)

Logan van Beek (Taita District)

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2024/25 BLACKCAPS Contracted Players:

Michael Bracewell (Eastern Suburbs)

Tom Blundell (Karori CC)

Devon Conway (VUWCC)

Rachin Ravindra (Hutt District)

Ben Sears (Hutt District)