Super Smash T20 has been one of the most competitive T20 leagues in the world and perhaps the only T20 league where all the participating teams have won the title at least once. Hence, picking a winner in this tournament is never easy. Here, we look back at the performances of the six sides over the last few seasons to offer insights into what's in store for the Super Smash 2024-25 edition of the tournament.
# Northern Brave - Super Smash T20
The Northern Brave fell from grace last season. From winners in the 2022-23 season, the team finished at the bottom of the points table, winning only two games. Skipper Jeet Raval would like to put the upset of the last season behind his back and find form right from the start. They have won the title five times, making them the most successful team along with the Auckland Aces. The team has a lot of experienced players, including Mitchell Santner, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Robert O'Donnell, and Tim Seifert. Raval wants his players to be consistent as they hunt for another title.
Squad - Jeet Raval (c), Kristian Clarke, Mitchell Santner, Matthew Fisher, Fergus Lellman, Ben Pomare, Katene Clarke, Neil Wagner, Henry Cooper, Bharat Popli, Snehith Reddy, Tim Southee, Tim Seifert, Brett Hampton, Josh Brown, Joe Carter, Robert O'Donnell, Freddy Walker, Scott Johnston
# Canterbury Kings - Super Smash T20
Since their win in the tournament's inaugural edition in 2005-06, the Kings haven't added another jewel to the crown. They have made it to the final for the last four seasons but haven't tasted success. Cole McConchie would consider themselves unlucky as rain washed away the final last season, and Auckland Aces won by finishing at the top of the points table. They have good players and expect Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, and Henry Nicholls to do well. They have been the most consistent team in the last few seasons, and McConchie would like to end this title drought.
Squad - Cole McConchie (c), Henry Shipley, Cam Paul, Matt Rowe, Zak Foulkes, Ish Sodhi, Ed Nuttall, Rhys Mariu, Michael Rippon, Matt Henry, Chad Bowes, Tom Latham, Fraser Sheat, Angus McKenzie, Ken McClure, Will O'Rourke, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay, Matt Boyle, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Michael Rae, Sean Davey
# Wellington Firebirds - Super Smash T20
The four-time champions finished third on the point table but lost in the Elimination Final against the Canterbury Kings. The side won the title last in 2020-21 but hasn't been able to repeat the same level of consistency since. Nick Kelly would like his team to turn its fortunes this year with a well-balanced squad with big games like Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Logan van Beek, and Tom Blundell. The side draws its strengths from young players who have played well together. Kelly would aim for its fifth title and level with the Aces and Kings to become the most successful team in the tournament's history.
Squad - Nick Kelly (c), Tim Robinson, Yahya Zeb, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Liam Dudding, Ben SearsIain McPeake, Nick Greenwood, Jesse Tashkoff, Nathan Smith, Muhammad Abbas, Troy Johnson, Logan van Beek, Michael Snedden, Sam Mycock, Tom Blundell, Gareth Severin, James Hartshorn, Callum McLachlan, Adam Milne, Peter Younghusband
# Auckland Aces - Super Smash T20
They topped the points table last season, which helped them grab the title after the final against the Canterbury Kings fell victim to poor weather. It was the fifth title for the team, making them the most successful team, along with the Canterbury Kings, in the tournament's history. Sean Solia, who takes over as the captain would aim for a record 6th title. They have good players on the team, such as Cam Fletcher, Mark Chapman, Ben Lister, Louis Delport, and Danru Ferns. They will be one of the teams to watch out for.
Squad - Sean Solia (c), Michael Sclanders, Harjot Johal, William O'Donnell, Cam Fletcher, Simon Keene, Jock McKenzie, Quinn Sunde, Bevon Jacobs, Adithya Ashok, Ben Lister, Louis Delport, Danru Ferns, Jordan Sussex, Mark Chapman, Matthew Gibson
# Central Stags - Super Smash T20
The Stags failed to show their consistency last season. They won the title thrice, with the last in 2018-19. The side led by the energetic Tom Bruce would like to set the ball rolling from the start of the season. They have a young bunch of players and shall aim to do well this season. The team lacks star power like other teams in the tournament and shall look to get the best out of players like Ajaz Patel, Will Young, Doug Bracewell, Blair Tickner, and Brad Schmulian. They aren't the strongest team this season, and it remains to be seen if they can surprise their stronger opponents.
Squad - Tom Bruce (c), Ajaz Patel, Josh Clarkson, Will Young, Curtis Heaphy, Jayden Lennox, Joey Field, Brad Schmulian, William Clark, Doug Bracewell, Mason Hughes, Ray Toole, Blair Tickner, Angus Schaw, Jack Boyle, Ewald Schreuder, Dane Cleaver, Brett Randell
# Otago Volts - Super Smash T20
The Volts performed poorly last season, finishing 5th on the points table, winning only twice in ten games. They haven't won the title for over a decade, with their last victory coming back in 2012-13. Luke Georgeson, who has taken over the captaincy from Dean Foxcroft, would like to guide his team to their third title this season. He would like a good start this season, as this has been an endemic problem for the side in the previous few editions. Jacob Duffy, Max Chu, Ben Lockrose, and Glenn Phillips will be the key players for the team this season and must do well.
Squad - Luke Georgeson (c), Glenn Phillips, Jamal Todd, Matthew Bacon, Jake Gibson, Dale Phillips, Dean Foxcroft, Jarrod McKay, Andrew Hazeldine, Jacob Duffy, Jacob Cumming, Llew Johnson, Travis Muller, Thorn Parkes, Leo Carter, Max Chu, Ben Lockrose
We are in the 20th season of the Super Smash. It marks a major milestone for this T20 franchise league from New Zealand. It doesn't have the same money power as the Indian Premier League or the Big Bash League, but expect to see exciting and competitive cricket as we have seen in the last two decades. It is the second oldest T20 franchise league in the world after the T20 Blast and has seen several incarnations, starting with the New Zealand Twenty20 Competition, followed by State Twenty20, HRV Cup, and the HRV Twenty20 before settling in its current avatar as Super Smash since 2014-15
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