Dane Cleaver is a talented wicketkeeper and batter from New Zealand who plays domestic cricket for Central Districts. Born on January 1 1992 he grew up surrounded by the sport and is notably the cousin of New Zealand cricket captain Kane Williamson. He made his first class debut for Central Districts back in March 2011 in a rain affected draw where barely any overs were bowled. He followed that up by making his List A debut the very next season slowly building his reputation as a reliable player behind the stumps and with the bat.
Over the years Cleaver became a key figure for his domestic team. In the 2019 to 2020 Plunket Shield season he had a massive breakthrough performance where he scored a brilliant double century in the first innings and made nine fielding dismissals in a single match. His leadership qualities were also recognized when he was named the captain of the Central Districts team for a Plunket Shield match in March 2022. By 2020 his consistent domestic form had already earned him a spot in the New Zealand A team for practice matches against the touring West Indies side.
After years of hard work in the domestic circuit Cleaver finally got his chance on the international stage in 2022. He was called up to the New Zealand Test squad against England in June and shortly after he made his T20 international debut against Ireland in July 2022. In just his second match of that series he proved his worth by smashing an unbeaten 78 runs to win the game for his country. He also made his ODI debut against Scotland later that same month showing that he could be a valuable asset in multiple formats.
Heading into the 2025-2026 season Cleaver continued to be a highly effective player in New Zealand domestic competitions and remained on the national radar. During the 2025-2026 Super Smash tournament he was a key contributor for the Central Stags scoring 277 runs in the competition including a brilliant 95 off just 53 balls against Wellington. In the Plunket Shield in early 2026 he showcased his excellent red ball form by scoring a fantastic century of 109 runs against Northern Districts. His strong domestic performances earned him a recall to the national T20 team where he played against South Africa in March 2026 proving that his skills with the bat and gloves are still highly valued at the top level.
