The Super Smash 2025–26 season has six teams from across New Zealand. Super Smash is New Zealand’s main Twenty20 cricket tournament. It’s very popular and brings together the country’s best cricket players.
The 2025–26 season is exciting because teams have strong players and new talent.
This guide shows you complete team lists, squads, captains, coaches, top players, last season results, and what each team can do this year.
Super Smash 2025–26
The Super Smash 2025–26 season has six teams playing in New Zealand’s top Twenty20 cricket competition.
| Team Name | Home Venue | Captain | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland Aces | Eden Park Outer Oval | Sean Solia | TBC |
| Canterbury Kings | Hagley Oval | Cole McConchie | TBC |
| Central Stags | McLean Park | Doug Bracewell | TBC |
| Northern Brave | Seddon Park | Mitchell Santner | TBC |
| Otago Volts | University Oval | Jacob Duffy | TBC |
| Wellington Firebirds | Basin Reserve | Michael Bracewell | TBC |
Each team plays all other teams twice in the group stage. The season starts in late December 2025.
After group matches, the top teams play in knockout games to find the champion.
This year looks good because teams have brought back their international players and added exciting new cricketers. The format stays the same as before. Teams play at famous cricket grounds around New Zealand. The best teams move forward to the finals and compete for the championship trophy.
Super Smash 2025–26 Teams & Full Squads
Note: The captains are not yet announced, but below you’ll find expected captains based on previous seasons. This squad list may change as final rosters are confirmed closer to the tournament start.
Auckland Aces – Squad & Team Analysis
Auckland Aces are one of New Zealand’s best cricket teams. They like to attack and have strong batters. They play home games at Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland.
Auckland Aces Full Squad:
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Sean Solia | Captain |
| Ben Lister | Bowler |
| Adithya Ashok | All-rounder |
| Jock McKenzie | Batsman |
| Simon Keene | Wicketkeeper |
| Ryan Harrison | Bowler |
| Matthew Gibson | All-rounder |
| Jordan Sussex | Batsman |
| Harjot Johal | All-rounder |
| Bevon Jacobs | Batsman |
| Samrath Singh | All-rounder |
| Lachlan Stackpole | Batsman |
| Angus Olliver | Bowler |
| Siddhesh Dixit | Batsman |
| Rohit Gulati | All-rounder |
| Harrish Kannan | Bowler |
| Jaskaran Sandhu | All-rounder |
| Martin Guptill | Batsman |
| Cam Fletcher | Wicketkeeper |
| James Neesham | All-rounder |
| Mark Chapman | Batsman |
| Lockie Ferguson | Bowler |
| Finn Allen | Batsman |
| Dale Phillips | Bowler |
Auckland has big names like Martin Guptill, Lockie Ferguson, and James Neesham. They have many good batters, including Finn Allen and Mark Chapman who can score fast. Ferguson bowls very fast and Ben Lister gives them more bowling options.
Canterbury Kings – Squad & Team Analysis
Canterbury Kings are the current champions. They play at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. They always do well and work great as a team.
Canterbury Kings Full Squad:
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Cole McConchie | Captain |
| Fraser Sheat | Bowler |
| Angus McKenzie | All-rounder |
| Mitch Hay | Wicketkeeper |
| Jesse Frew | Batsman |
| Rhys Mariu | Wicketkeeper |
| Will O’Rourke | Bowler |
| Zak Foulkes | All-rounder |
| Matt Boyle | Batsman |
| Cam Paul | Batsman |
| Matt Rowe | All-rounder |
| Raunaq Kapur | Batsman |
| Scott Janett | All-rounder |
| Michael Rippon | Bowler |
| Tom Latham | Batsman |
| Sean Davey | Bowler |
| Ish Sodhi | Bowler |
| Chad Bowes | Batsman |
| Matt Henry | Bowler |
| Henry Nicholls | Batsman |
| Daryl Mitchell | All-rounder |
| Leo Carter | Batsman |
| Kyle Jamieson | All-rounder |
| Michael Rae | Bowler |
| Henry Shipley | Bowler |
Canterbury has amazing players everywhere. Tom Latham, Matt Henry, and Daryl Mitchell have played lots of cricket for New Zealand.
Chad Bowes hits hard. Their bowlers like Henry, Kyle Jamieson, and Ish Sodhi are probably the best in the competition.
Central Stags – Squad & Team Analysis
Central Stags play for the middle part of New Zealand. Their home ground is McLean Park in Napier. They work hard and help young players get better.
Central Stags Full Squad:
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Doug Bracewell | Captain |
| Brad Schmulian | Batsman |
| Bayley Wiggins | All-rounder |
| William Clark | Batsman |
| Joey Field | Wicketkeeper |
| Ray Toole | All-rounder |
| Jayden Lennox | Bowler |
| Curtis Heaphy | Batsman |
| Angus Schaw | Bowler |
| Toby Findlay | All-rounder |
| Tyler Annand | Batsman |
| Taylor Bettelheim | All-rounder |
| Oscar Mabin | Batsman |
| Will Young | Batsman |
| Ajaz Patel | Bowler |
| Dane Cleaver | Wicketkeeper |
| Brett Randell | All-rounder |
| Tom Bruce | Batsman |
| Blair Tickner | Bowler |
| Josh Clarkson | All-rounder |
| Dean Foxcroft | Batsman |
Central Stags have some good players but not as many stars as other teams. Will Young and Tom Bruce are steady batters. Ajaz Patel is their main spinner. Doug Bracewell and Blair Tickner help with bowling, but they need younger players to step up.
Northern Brave – Squad & Team Analysis
Northern Brave used to be called Northern Districts. They play at Seddon Park in Hamilton. They always have strong teams with famous players and local talent.
Northern Brave Full Squad:
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Mitchell Santner | Captain |
| Henry Cooper | Wicketkeeper |
| Katene Clarke | All-rounder |
| Matt Fisher | Bowler |
| Kristian Clarke | All-rounder |
| Tim Pringle | Bowler |
| Ben Pomare | Batsman |
| Fergus Lellman | All-rounder |
| Josh Brown | Batsman |
| Snehith Reddy | All-rounder |
| Xavier Bell | Batsman |
| Aryan Mann | All-rounder |
| James Naylor | Bowler |
| Tim Southee | Bowler |
| Neil Wagner | Bowler |
| Kane Williamson | Batsman |
| Robert O’Donnell | Wicketkeeper |
| Scott Kuggeleijn | All-rounder |
| Jeet Raval | Batsman |
| Tim Seifert | Wicketkeeper |
| Bharat Popli | Batsman |
| Joe Carter | All-rounder |
| Brett Hampton | Batsman |
| Zak Gibson | Bowler |
Northern Brave have some of the best players in the world. Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, and Mitchell Santner are all top New Zealand cricketers.
Tim Seifert hits big and keeps wicket. Their bowlers Southee and Neil Wagner are very experienced and hard to score against.
Otago Volts – Squad & Team Analysis
Otago Volts play for the south of New Zealand. They play home games at University Oval in Dunedin. They work hard and try to compete even though they’re a smaller team.
Otago Volts Full Squad:
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Jacob Duffy | Captain |
| Jack Boyle | Batsman |
| Danru Ferns | All-rounder |
| Max Chu | Wicketkeeper |
| Luke Georgeson | Batsman |
| Ben Lockrose | All-rounder |
| Andrew Hazeldine | Bowler |
| Llew Johnson | Batsman |
| Troy Johnson | All-rounder |
| Jake Gibson | Bowler |
| Jarrod McKay | Batsman |
| Jacob Cumming | All-rounder |
| Thorn Parkes | Batsman |
| Jamal Todd | All-rounder |
| Mason Clarke | Bowler |
| Zac Cumming | All-rounder |
| Tom Jones | Batsman |
| Toby Hart | Bowler |
| Thomas O’Connor | All-rounder |
| Glenn Phillips | Batsman |
| Matthew Bacon | Bowler |
Otago’s best player is Glenn Phillips, who can win games by himself with his batting. Captain Jacob Duffy bowls well too. But the team doesn’t have as many good players as others, so they need everyone to play their best.
Wellington Firebirds – Squad & Team Analysis
Wellington Firebirds play for the capital city. Their home is Basin Reserve. They have a good cricket history and produce many players who play for New Zealand.
Wellington Firebirds Full Squad:
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Michael Bracewell | Captain |
| Callum McLachlan | Wicketkeeper |
| Michael Snedden | Bowler |
| Jesse Tashkoff | All-rounder |
| Nick Greenwood | Bowler |
| James Hartshorn | All-rounder |
| Tim Robinson | Batsman |
| Gareth Severin | Wicketkeeper |
| Muhammad Abbas | Bowler |
| Yahya Zeb | All-rounder |
| Oscar Jackson | Batsman |
| Ryan Tsourgas | All-rounder |
| Sam Mycock | Bowler |
| Amogh Paranjpe | Batsman |
| Samuel Morgan | All-rounder |
| Adam Milne | Bowler |
| Nick Kelly | Batsman |
| Logan van Beek | All-rounder |
| Tom Blundell | Wicketkeeper |
| Devon Conway | Batsman |
| Peter Younghusband | All-rounder |
| Rachin Ravindra | All-rounder |
| Ben Sears | Bowler |
| Nathan Smith | Bowler |
| Liam Dudding | Bowler |
Wellington have great batters like Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Michael Bracewell. Tom Blundell adds more experience. Adam Milne and Ben Sears bowl fast. They have good players in all areas, which makes them a strong team this season.
Strongest Teams In Super Smash 2025–26 (Predictions)
1. Canterbury Kings – They have good players everywhere. Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, and Ish Sodhi bowl really well. Chad Bowes and Daryl Mitchell score lots of runs fast.
2. Northern Brave – They have Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, and Mitchell Santner who are all famous New Zealand players. These players can change games quickly. Their batting and bowling are both very strong.
3. Wellington Firebirds – Wellington’s batters like Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Michael Bracewell score well. Adam Milne and Ben Sears bowl fast and take wickets. They have a good chance to win the title.
Key Players To Watch In 2025–26 Season
- Kane Williamson (Northern Brave) – One of the best batters in the world. He plays for New Zealand and wins many games.
- Glenn Phillips (Otago Volts) – Hits the ball very hard and far. He’s one of the most exciting Twenty20 players around.
- Rachin Ravindra (Wellington Firebirds) – Young star who bats and bowls. He’s been doing great for New Zealand lately.
- Lockie Ferguson (Auckland Aces) – Bowls super fast and takes important wickets in Twenty20 games.
- Devon Conway (Wellington Firebirds) – Left-handed batter who scores big. He’s very good at building long innings.
- Matt Henry (Canterbury Kings) – Good fast bowler who knows how to bowl well in New Zealand.
- Mitchell Santner (Northern Brave) – Spins the ball well and leads his team as captain.
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Conclusion: Six Teams Will Compete For The Super Smash 2025–26
Canterbury Kings won last year, but Northern Brave and Wellington Firebirds can beat them. The tournament has many famous international players and new young cricketers.
Most teams are pretty even, so games should be close and fun to watch. Keep checking for updates about teams, match times, and any squad changes as the season goes on.
FAQs
Six teams are playing: Auckland Aces, Canterbury Kings, Central Stags, Northern Brave, Otago Volts, and Wellington Firebirds. Each team plays for a different part of New Zealand.
Canterbury Kings look strongest because they won last year and kept their good players. Northern Brave and Wellington Firebirds also have many top players and can win the championship too.
Sean Solia leads Auckland, Cole McConchie leads Canterbury, Doug Bracewell leads Central Stags, Mitchell Santner leads Northern Brave, Jacob Duffy leads Otago, and Michael Bracewell leads Wellington.
Super Smash mostly has New Zealand players. The international players you see are New Zealand cricketers coming back from playing cricket in other countries, not players from other nations.
Teams usually confirm their final squads just before the tournament starts in late December. They can make changes during the season if players get hurt or need to play for New Zealand.
Canterbury Kings won last season. They played well in all parts of the game and beat the other team in the final match to become champions.
Many young players across all teams will play their first Super Smash games this season. Each team has new players who will get a chance to show what they can do.
Canterbury Kings probably have the best bowlers with Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, and Henry Shipley. Northern Brave’s bowlers like Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, and Mitchell Santner are also really good.
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