Josh Clarkson

A powerful finisher who can also bowl at a brisk pace, Josh Clarkson broke into the New Zealand senior team in late 2023 after dominating the domestic white-ball scene for Central Districts, especially in white-ball cricket.

Glenn Pocknall, the former Central Districts coach who also had a stint as New Zealand coach, likens his power-hitting to Finn Allen's. Clarkson's towering frame - 6 feet 3 inches - and long reach give him a broad range and there are no half-measures about his ball-striking. That was on display when he hit an unbeaten 71 off 32 balls for CD against a Wellington attack in a Super Smash game in 2021.

Two years later, on his international debut against Bangladesh in a rain-hit ODI in Dunedin, Clarkson took 2 for 24.

Born in Christchurch, Clarkson moved to Blenheim, Nelson and Te Awamutu at different stages, but he continues to remain loyal to CD.