Black Caps: Mark Chapman to be released from NZ Cricket central contract to chase Australian deal
Black Caps batter Mark Chapman will opt out of his New Zealand Cricket central contract to sign a casual playing agreement with the national body.
The 32-year-old will move to a casual playing agreement in order to take up a contract to join a side in Australia’s Big Bash League.
However, multiple sources have told the Herald that Chapman’s commitment to the Black Caps and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is unchanged, and the batter is expected to be part of New Zealand’s plans for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa and 2028 T20 World Cup on home soil.
As a result, the left-hander will ink a one-year deal to play in Australia’s T20 league, with the intention of returning to New Zealand for the 2027-28 summer, in time for the launch of the proposed NZ20.
The only difference between the central and casual deal for Chapman will be his ability to seek overseas deals during the January window, instead of playing for Auckland in the domestic Super Smash.
The schedule for the 2026-27 Big Bash League will also have limited impact on Chapman’s ability to play for New Zealand.
Provided his team reach the final on January 26, Chapman would be unavailable for the three-match one day international series, as well as the first of three T20 internationals.
He will, though, still be available for India’s tour of New Zealand beginning next month.
Chapman was one of 20 players to sign a NZC central contract earlier this year, where players are ranked by their value to the organisation and the Black Caps across formats, and paid accordingly.
The central contract list for the 2026-27 season saw Chapman – along with Michael Bracewell – opt out of any ranking for red ball and test cricket.
Instead, Chapman will become the fifth player in this cycle to sign a casual deal with NZC, joining Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne.
Amid the changing landscape of international cricket, in balance with the huge sums of money available to players in the franchise world, Chapman has become a mainstay of New Zealand’s white ball plans.
Since switching his allegiance from Hong Kong to New Zealand in 2018, Chapman has played 35 one-day internationals for the Black Caps and 94 T20 internationals.
Chapman’s place on NZC’s central contract list has been filled by fast bowler Matt Fisher.
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.