Jordan Sussex awarded 16th and final ACES contract for 2026/2

Takapuna District Cricket Club fast bowler Jordan Sussex has been selected as the final recipient of an ACES contract for the 2026/27 season.

The 32-year-old has been largely absent

from the ACES team sheet over the last two seasons due to injury, but his record in first-class cricket is hard to ignore.

Sussex’s 29 Plunket Shield wickets have come at an average of 20.44 and include two five-wicket hauls. His bowling figures of 8/71 against Canterbury in March 2024 were the best innings haul for the ACES since Mitchell McClenaghan's 8/23 against Otago in 2012.

ACES Head Coach Rob Nicol sees Sussex's work ethic as an asset.

"Jordan has worked incredibly hard through a challenging period and shown plenty of resilience.

"We're excited about the skillset and potential he brings, and we're looking forward to seeing him continue to develop and make an impact for the ACES," says Nicol.

Three players return to or join the contracted list for the new season. Young batter Luke Watson earns his first ACES contract after an outstanding introduction to first-class cricket at the back end of last season. The talented left-handed top-order batter scored 180 runs across his first two Plunket Shield matches, highlighted by an impressive 86 on debut against Wellington.

All-rounder James Neesham also returns to the Auckland domestic contract list, taking up his first New Zealand Cricket contract — domestic or international — since the 2021/22 season. Neesham will be available for the limited-overs competitions: the Super Smash and the Ford Trophy.

Leg-spinner Adithya Ashok is also back on the Auckland contract list after missing out on a New Zealand central contract for the 2026/27 season.

"We're really excited about the group we've assembled," says Nicol.

"There's a strong mix of experience, emerging talent and players who are continuing to grow their games. We believe this squad has plenty of depth and upside, and we're looking forward to getting everyone together and building towards the season."

Notable omissions from the ACES contract list include Harrish Kannan, who has relocated from Auckland with his family; Harjot Johal, who wasn't considered due to injury; and Sid Dixit, who falls just outside the list of 16.

The ACES reconvene on 1 September. The schedules for the domestic summer will be released in due course.

 

Player	Club
Adithya Ashok**	Suburbs New Lynn
Cam Fletcher	Suburbs New Lynn
Ryan Harrison	East Coast Bays
Simon Keene	North Shore
Rohit Kumar***	Papatoetoe
Bevon Jacobs	Hibiscus Coast
Ben Lister	Suburbs New Lynn
Jock McKenzie	North Shore
James Neesham**	Suburbs New Lynn
Angus Olliver	Auckland University
Dale Phillips	Howick Pakuranga
Samrath Singh	Cornwall
Sean Solia	Suburbs New Lynn
Lachlan Stackpole	Howick Pakuranga
Jordan Sussex	Takapuna
Luke Watson*	East Coast Bays

 

* First time contract

** Returning to contract list

*** Rohit Kumar (formerly Rohit Gulati) has updated his playing name to reflect his legal passport name, and will be known as Rohit Kumar across all cricket records going forward.