The Wellington Firebirds have confirmed their first round of men’s domestic contracts for the 2026/27 season, retaining a strong core group while adding key experience and depth ahead of the new summer.

The initial list of 15 contracted players reflects continuity within the squad, alongside the addition of pace bowling all-rounder Henry Shipley, who joins the Firebirds from Canterbury.

Shipley brings valuable international and domestic experience to the Wellington environment, having represented New Zealand in recent years and taken 72 first-class wickets at an average of 29.15 while also contributing 26.73 with the bat. After overcoming a lengthy injury period, he arrives in the capital looking for a fresh start and to further build on his already established record.

Firebirds Head Coach Shane Jurgensen said the squad presented an exciting opportunity for continued growth and development.

“What excites me about our squad is the opportunity to further invest in the development of their careers and build on the talent we saw last season,” Jurgensen said.

“We want our players to demonstrate the skills and mindset to perform and push for selection to higher honours, and our BLACKCAPS who featured in the recent historic Test series win against England stand as the inspirational example.

“Henry Shipley, now a Firebird, is a welcome addition to our environment and will strengthen our squad with his skills both with the bat and ball and his already impressive record.”

General Manager High Performance Dave Wildash said the squad balance reflected both established quality and emerging talent.

“We’re really excited about the squad we’ve put together for the upcoming season,” Wildash said. “There’s a great combination of experienced, established players and some outstanding local young talent who showed last season just what they’re capable of. Bringing in Henry Shipley adds further depth to the squad, and his international experience and quality will be a valuable addition across the group.”

Throughout the season, the Firebirds will also benefit from access to their six BLACKCAPS-contracted players when available: Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Ben Sears, Devon Conway, Tom Blundell and Michael Bracewell. Devon Conway returns to a full BLACKCAPS central contract this season after being on a casual agreement in 2025/26, meaning the Firebirds are likely to have access to him when available outside of international duty.

Muhammad Abbas returns to a domestic contract this season after previously holding a BLACKCAPS contract, while the Firebirds also farewell Nick Kelly, who departs after four seasons as captain of the Wellington Firebirds (read more here), and Michael Snedden, who has retired from professional cricket.

The Firebirds’ batting group includes Tim Robinson and Muhammad Abbas as key batsmen in the lineup, alongside BLACKCAPS wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell, who produced an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, scoring 1,160 runs across all three formats.

With the ball, the Firebirds will draw on a well-balanced attack across seam and spin options within the squad. Henry Shipley adds further pace bowling depth, joining a wider unit that includes international all-rounder Logan van Beek, last season’s Firebirds Men’s Outstanding Bowler of the Year James Hartshorn, and senior leg-spin bowler Peter Younghusband, who earned a maiden New Zealand ‘A’ call-up at the end of last season.

The first fifteen contracted Wellington Firebirds for 2026/27 are:

• Callum McLachlan
• Gareth Severin
• Henry Shipley
• James Hartshorn
• Jesse Tashkoff
• Liam Dudding
• Logan van Beek
• Muhammad Abbas
• Nick Greenwood
• Oscar Jackson
• Peter Younghusband
• Sam Mycock
• Samuel Morgan
• Tim Robinson
• Yahya Zeb
   

The Firebirds will announce their 16th contracted player in the coming weeks as preparations continue for the 2026/27 domestic summer, with preseason training set to begin in early September.
 

Article added: Monday 06 July 2026