Mark Chapman Takes Casual Contract As Fisher Joins NZC List

Mark Chapman: casual contract, Big Bash deal, still available for New Zealand. The 32-year-old has given up his New Zealand Cricket central contract for 2026-27. He will play in Australia's Big Bash League later this year. He stays in the selection pool.

Northern Districts fast bowler Matt Fisher has been handed his first central contract. The list now numbers 20 players. Chapman is expected to feature against India next month.

Chapman drops off the central list

Chapman has played 150 international matches for New Zealand. Casual terms keep him selectable. They remove the year-round commitment a central contract carries. The change takes effect for the 2026-27 season.

“I'm thankful to New Zealand Cricket for their support now and throughout my career,” Chapman said. “The upcoming India series is one all us players are really excited for, and I'm committed wholeheartedly to performing in that series.”

Casual contracts are not new at New Zealand Cricket. Four players were already on them before this round. Chapman is the fifth.

Fisher earns a first contract

Fisher is 26. He made his international debut late last year. He took a career-best 3 for 40 against West Indies in July. Selection manager Gavin Larsen pointed to the schedule ahead. “With the heavy schedule of cricket coming up, notably the Test matches against India, Australia, and Sri Lanka, we know we'll need good depth in our fast-bowling stocks to give the BlackCaps the best chance of success,” Larsen said.

Chief high performance officer Daryl Gibson framed the promotion as a knock-on for the domestic game. “With Matt Fisher coming onto the central contract list, it creates a space at Northern Districts to bring another athlete onto their contract list to continue their development,” Gibson said.

Five names on casual terms

Chapman joins four players already outside the central list.

• Finn Allen
• Lockie Ferguson
• Adam Milne
• Tim Seifert
• Mark Chapman

New Zealand Cricket confirmed the list for the 2026-27 season. All five stay available for selection.

India series opens the summer

New Zealand Cricket's announced home schedule has India touring from late October. That tour is five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests. The first T20I is on 22 October. The Tests run from 19 November.

Five venues carry the India fixtures. Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui share the tour. Sri Lanka follow in January and February for three ODIs, three T20Is and two Tests. Bangladesh's women tour in December for three T20Is and three ODIs, split between Nelson, Wellington and Mount Maunganui.

Four Tests and 16 white-ball matches are scheduled across the two men's tours. Larsen's point about fast-bowling depth reads against that. The Big Bash season runs through the middle of it.