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Kane Williamson Set To Miss Australia Series; Confirms Availability For T20 WC 2026

Rajgeeta Yadav

Kane Williamson [Source: AFP]Kane Williamson [Source: AFP]

New Zealand star batter Kane Williamson has confirmed that he will not take part in the upcoming T20 series against Australia in October. However, he has made it clear that he will be available for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Williamson And Co Opt For Casual Contracts

Williamson is one of five senior Black Caps, along with Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Finn Allen, and Tim Seifert, who have signed “casual contracts” with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for the 2025/26 season. These agreements are slightly different from full-time central contracts. 

They allow players to take part in popular T20 franchise leagues around the world while still remaining tied to New Zealand’s cricket setup.

Under the arrangement, players will still receive coaching, fitness training, and medical support from NZC. They will also have access to gyms and other facilities while committing to represent the country in certain international series and tournaments, especially big events like the T20 World Cup.

NZC Chief Executive Scott Weenink said the casual contracts were designed to keep New Zealand’s best players available for major tournaments while still giving them the flexibility to play overseas.

“With such a pinnacle event on the horizon, we wanted to ensure our best T20 players were ready and available to push for inclusion,” Scott Weenink said.

“The message from the players is that playing for the Black Caps is hugely important to them and I’m pleased we’ve been able to agree terms to have them casually contracted for the coming season,” he added.

Williamson’s decision means he will skip the three-match T20 series against Australia, which begins on October 1 in Mount Maunganui. Fellow opener Finn Allen will also miss the series as he continues to recover from a foot injury. 

However, Conway, Ferguson, and Seifert are all set to feature against Australia. After that, New Zealand will also host England in another three-match T20 series starting on October 18 in Christchurch.