Cricket enthusiasts, gear up for an action-packed T20 fiesta as the Super Smash 2023-24 is set to captivate audiences from December 19, 2023, to January 28, 2024. Organized by New Zealand Cricket, the Super Smash is the premier men’s domestic T20 cricket competition in the country, promising six teams, 32 exhilarating T20 matches, and 40 days of cricketing frenzy.
Six Teams, One Title: The Super Smash Lineup
The 19th edition of the Super Smash will witness six formidable teams vying for supremacy: Auckland Aces, Canterbury, Central Stags, Northern Districts, Otago Volts, and Wellington Firebirds. These teams will lock horns in a total of 32 T20 matches, showcasing the best of New Zealand’s T20 talent.
Double Round-Robin Format: A Test of Consistency
As per the schedule, each team will engage in a double round-robin format, facing off against the other sides twice. This ensures a comprehensive league phase, with every team playing a total of 10 matches. The battle for consistency will be intense as teams strive to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Super Smash 2023-24 teams and squads
Auckland Aces: Sean Solia (captain),George Worker, Mark Chapman, Robert O’Donnell, William O’Donnell, Harjot Johal, James Neesham, Ryan Harrison, Simon Keene, Cam Fletcher (wicket-keeper), Cole Briggs (wicket-keeper), Finn Allen (wicket-keeper), Quinn Sunde (wicket-keeper), Adithya Ashok, Benjamin Lister, Danru Ferns, Jock McKenzie, Louis Delport, Matthew Gibson, Yahya Zeb
Canterbury: Cole McConchie (captain), Bevon Jacobs, Chad Bowes, Harry Chamberlain, Henry Nicholls, Ken McClure, Leo Carter, Matt Boyle, Rhys Mariu, Angus McKenzie, Cameron Paul, Daryl Mitchell, Dylan Hunter, Michael Rippon, Sean Davey, Zakary Foulkes, Mitchell Hay (wicket-keeper), Tom Latham (wicket-keeper), Edward Nuttall, Fraser Sheat, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Michael Rae, William O’Rourke
Central Stags: Dane Cleaver (captain/wicket-keeper), Ben Smith, Greg Hay, Jack Boyle, Josh Clarkson, Tom Bruce, Will Young, William Clark, Bevan Small, Brad Schmulian, Doug Bracewell, Bayley Wiggins (wicket-keeper), Curtis Heaphy (wicket-keeper), Ajaz Patel, Angus Schaw, Blair Tickner, Brett Randell, Jayden Lennox, Joey Field, Liam Dudding, Ray Toole
Northern Districts: Jeet Raval (captain), Anurag Verma, Bharat Popli, Brett Hampton, Kristian Clarke, Matt Fisher, Peter Bocock (wicket-keeper), Zak Gibson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Seifert (wicket-keeper), Tim Southee, Colin de Grandhomme, Trent Boult, Kane Williamson, Freddy Walker, Henry Cooper, Joe Walker, Joe Carter, Katene Clarke, Tim Pringle, Mitchell Santner, Neil Wagner
Otago Volts: Dean Foxcroft (captain), Dale Phillips, Hamish Rutherford, Max Chu (wicket-keeper), Andrew Hazeldine, Ben Lockrose, Jacob Duffy, Jarrod McKay, Matthew Bacon, Travis Muller, Llew Johnson, Ollie White, Thorn Parkes, Glenn Phillips, Jake Gibson, Jacob Cumming, Jamal Todd, Luke Georgeson
Wellington Firebirds: Nick Kelly (captain), Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway (wicket-keeper), Iain McPeake, Michael Snedden, Nathan Smith, Peter Younghusband, Gareth Severin, Nick Greenwood, Jesse Tashkoff, Muhammad Abbas, Ben Sears, Michael Bracewell, Tom Blundell (wicket-keeper), Logan Van Beek, James Hartshorn, Adam Milne, Tim Robinson, Troy Johnson, Callum McLachlan (wicket-keeper)
Road to the Final: Playoffs Unveiled
The team finishing at the top of the standings after the league matches will enjoy a direct ticket to the final showdown on January 28, 2024. The stakes get higher for the second and third-placed teams, who will clash in an elimination final for the coveted spot in the grand finale. The playoff stage promises nail-biting encounters and high-pressure situations.
Defending Champions and Past Glories
Northern Districts enter the tournament as the defending champions, having clinched the title in the 2022-23 season by defeating Canterbury in a thrilling final. Since the inception of the T20 tournament in the 2005-06 season, Northern Districts, Auckland Aces, and Wellington Firebirds have emerged as the most successful teams, each boasting four titles.
Where to Catch the Action in India?
For fans in India eager to witness the Super Smash 2023-24 live, the excitement can be streamed on the FanCode app and website. Unfortunately, there will be no live telecast of the tournament on any TV channel in India. The FanCode platform ensures that cricket enthusiasts stay connected with the live action, bringing the T20 spectacle right to their screens.
Super Smash 2023-24 schedule and live India match start times
All match timings are in India Standard Time (IST)
| Date | Match | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, December 19 | Auckland Aces vs Canterbury | 5:00 AM |
| Thursday, December 21 | Wellington Firebirds vs Otago Volts | 8:30 AM |
| Friday, December 22 | Northern Districts vs Central Stags | 10:00 AM |
| Sunday, December 24 | Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces | 6:00 AM |
| Tuesday, December 26 | Canterbury vs Otago Volts | 10:00 AM |
| Wednesday, December 27 | Central Stags vs Northern Districts | 8:30 AM |
| Thursday, December 28 | Otago Volts vs Wellington Firebirds | 8:30 AM |
| Friday, December 29 | Central Stags vs Auckland Aces | 8:30 AM |
| Saturday, December 30 | Central Stags vs Canterbury | 8:30 AM |
| Monday, January 1 | Otago Volts vs Auckland Aces | 8:30 AM |
| Tuesday, January 2 | ||
| Wednesday, January 3 | Otago Volts vs Canterbury | 8:30 AM |
| Thursday, January 4 | Auckland Aces vs Wellington Firebirds | 8:30 AM |
| Friday, January 5 | Canterbury vs Central Stags | 8:30 AM |
| Saturday, January 6 | Northern Districts vs Otago Volts | 10:00 AM |
| Sunday, January 7 | Canterbury vs Auckland Aces | 8:30 AM |
| Monday, January 8 | Central Stags vs Wellington Firebirds | 6:30 AM |
| Tuesday, January 9 | Canterbury vs Northern Districts | 10:00 AM |
| Wednesday, January 10 | Central Stags vs Otago Volts | 10:00 AM |
| Thursday, January 11 | Canterbury vs Wellington Firebirds | 6:30 AM |
| Friday, January 12 | Northern Districts vs Auckland Aces | 8:30 AM |
| Saturday, January 13 | Wellington Firebirds vs Central Stags | 8:30 AM |
| Sunday, January 14 | Auckland Aces vs Otago Volts | 5:00 AM |
| Monday, January 15 | Wellington Firebirds vs Northern Districts | 8:30 AM |
| Tuesday, January 16 | Auckland Aces vs Central Stags | 8:30 AM |
| Thursday, January 18 | Northern Districts vs Canterbury | 10:00 AM |
| Friday, January 19 | Otago Volts vs Central Stags | 8:30 AM |
| Saturday, January 20 | Auckland Aces vs Northern Districts | 8:30 AM |
| Monday, January 22 | Wellington Firebirds vs Canterbury | 8:30 AM |
| Tuesday, January 23 | Otago Volts vs Northern Districts | 8:30 AM |
| Friday, January 26 | Elimination Final | 8:30 AM |
| Sunday, January 28 | Super Smash 2023-24 Final | 8:30 AM |
As the Super Smash 2023-24 unfolds, cricket aficionados can expect a thrilling blend of skill, strategy, and entertainment. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride of T20 cricket as New Zealand’s top teams battle it out for the coveted Super Smash title.