FIRST ROUND OF MEN’S CONTRACTS ANNOUNCED

4 Jul 2023

Northern Districts (ND) Cricket has announced the first 15 men’s players who have been contracted for the 2023/24 season, with a familiar line up which builds on the success of the last two seasons. The list of 15 contracted players is outlined below with a second announcement planned in July to name the 16th contract.

ND’s Plunket Shield First Class Player of the Year and Daniel Vettori Medal Male Player of the Year, Bharat Popli, will be one looking for another outstanding season to come on the back of superb seasons in both Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy.

Tim Seifert will continue to bring his power and variety to ND after a very strong 22/23 season in all three formats of the game as wicketkeeper and top-order batsman. His return to the BLACKCKAPS T20 side late in the summer saw him produce a series-winning innings against Sri Lanka. Punching 88 runs off 48 balls in the decider in Queenstown, Seifert cemented his international nous.

Swashbuckling opener Katene Clarke, who shared Northern Brave Super Smash Male Player of the Year honours with Seifert in a title-winning team, is once again included in the list. His athletic fielding being enjoyed by spectators around the country.

After an excellent season and his selection in the BLACKCAPS for the first Test of the series against England at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Scott Kuggeleijn will continue to play a key role in ND’s frontline bowling attack.

Joe Carter, Henry Cooper, Joe Walker and Matt Fisher, all selected for NZ A, have also locked in places in the ND contract list and with good seasons won’t be far off BLACKCAPS selection.

The squad is packed with talent across all three formats, and General Manager Performance & Talent, Ian Sandbrook, is looking forward to seeing their continued success. “After a robust process, we are pleased to announce our first round contracted players,” he said.

“There is familiarity in this list with all 15 of these players being contracted last season. This continuity reflects the quality within the playing group, with a good mix of young exciting talent and proven domestic and international performers. We believe this group of players can continue to grow and they have the ability to develop into a dominant team across all formats.”

The 2023/24 season will be BJ Watling’s first as Head Coach, and he is pleased with the squad’s quality, saying, “We have a nicely balanced squad with a good mix of youth and experience. We have quality in all areas and a group that is continuing to improve every year.”

“I'm looking forward to an exciting summer ahead.”

Northern Districts Men

First Round Contracted Players 2023-24