Former New Zealand captain and reliable batsman Kane Williamson has once again declined New Zealand Cricket’s (NZC) central contract for the second consecutive year, raising fresh questions about his international career.
The 34-year-old Williamson is currently playing for Middlesex in England’s County Championship and T20 Blast. Although he has opted out of the central contract, his relationship with NZC remains professional and positive. It is expected that, like last year, he will play under a ‘casual playing agreement.’
Speaking at a press conference in London last month, Williamson said, “It’s an ongoing process. New Zealand Cricket has been very supportive, and I have always received a positive response from them.”
He also skipped the central contract in 2024 but still played in 9 out of 13 Tests that year, scoring over a thousand runs.
Williamson’s name is absent from NZC’s recently announced central contract list for the 2025-26 season. Several other senior players, including Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Lockie Ferguson—who are busy in various global T20 leagues—are also missing from the list.
In response to senior players stepping back, NZC is introducing fresh talent into the squad. For the first time this year, Mohammad Abbas, Jack Folkes, Mitch Hay, and Adi Ashok have been awarded central contracts.
NZC CEO Scott Winink commented, “These players have shown the mentality to compete at the international level. We see in them the hunger and capability to inject new energy into the Black Caps squad.”
New Zealand is scheduled to tour Zimbabwe for a two-Test series in July-August. It remains uncertain whether Williamson will be part of the squad for that tour.
