The much-anticipated Men’s Super Smash is set to make a comeback, adding another exciting chapter to New Zealand’s cricketing summer. As one of the nation’s premier domestic competitions, the Super Smash offers an electrifying platform for seasoned campaigners and budding talents alike. With the spotlight on local stars, the 2024-25 season aims to uncover emerging players while continuing to celebrate the prowess of experienced performers.
This season marks the 20th edition of the tournament, a milestone for the prestigious T20 competition. Featuring 32 matches in total, including playoffs, the event runs from December 26, 2024, to February 2, 2025. The six participating teams – Auckland Aces, Canterbury Kings, Central Stags, Wellington Firebirds, Northern Districts, and Otago Volts – are set to compete in a format that guarantees action-packed cricket throughout the summer.
Auckland Aces: The defending champions
The Auckland Aces, the most successful team in Super Smash history, enter the 2024-25 season as the defending champions. With five titles to their name, the Aces have established a legacy of dominance in New Zealand’s domestic T20 circuit. Their victory last year was unconventional yet decisive; although the final was abandoned due to rain, they were crowned champions by finishing atop the points table. Heading into this season, the Aces will aim to extend their title tally and cement their position as the premier force in the competition.
Tournament format and structure
The round-robin format ensures that each of the six teams will face off twice during the league phase, providing an equal opportunity for all squads to showcase their strength. At the conclusion of the league stage, the top three teams will qualify for the playoffs. This structure not only rewards consistency but also adds a layer of suspense to the tournament as teams vie for the coveted playoff spots.
- The team finishing first on the points table earns a direct spot in the final.
- The teams finishing second and third will battle in an Eliminator match, with the winner advancing to the grand final.
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Men’s Super Smash 2024-25: Complete squads
- Auckland Aces: Sean Solia (c), Bevon Jacobs, Michael Sclanders, William O’Donnell, Harjot Johal, Simon Keene, Cam Fletcher (wk), Quinn Sunde (wk), Adithya Ashok, Angus Olliver, Benjamin Lister, Danru Ferns, Jock McKenzie, Jordan Sussex, Louis Delport, Matthew Gibson
- Otago Volts: Dale Phillips, Jamal Todd, Llew Johnson, Thorn Parkes, Dean Foxcroft, Jacob Cumming, Luke Georgeson, Zac Cumming, Max Chu (wk), Andrew Hazeldine, Ben Lockrose, Jake Gibson, Jarrod McKay, Matthew Bacon, Travis Muller
- Canterbury: Chad Bowes, Ken McClure, Matthew Boyle, Rhys Mariu, Cole McConchie, Henry Shipley, Michael Rippon, Zakary Foulkes, Mitchell Hay (wk), Angus McKenzie, Cameron Paul, Ed Nuttall, Fraser Sheat, Matt Rowe, Michael Rae, Sean Davey
- Central Stags: Jack Boyle, Mason Hughes, Toby Findlay, Tom Bruce, Brad Schmulian, Ewald Schreuder, Joey Field, William Clark, Curtis Heaphy (wk), Dane Cleaver (wk), Angus Schaw, Blair Tickner, Brett Randell, Jayden Lennox, Ray Toole, Tyler Annand
- Wellington Firebirds: Jesse Tashkoff, Muhammad Abbas, Nick Kelly, Sam Mycock, Tim Robinson, Troy Johnson, Logan van Beek, Nick Greenwood, Peter Younghusband, Callum McLachlan, Gareth Severin, Ian McPeake, James Hartshorn, Liam Dudding, Michael Snedden, Yahya Zeb
- Northern Districts: Jeet Raval (c), Bharat Popli, Fergus Lellman, Henry Cooper, Joe Carter, Katene Clarke, Kristian Clarke, Robert O’Donnell, Brett Hampton, Snehith Reddy, Ben Pomare (Wk), Frederick Walker, Joshua Brown, Matthew Fisher, Neil Wagner, Scott Johnston
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