Otago will be missing its three most potent bowlers for its crucial Plunket Shield game against Canterbury beginning in Invercargill on Monday.
Wagner and Neesham are in camp with the Black Caps preparing for the test against Pakistan, while Duffy is with New Zealand A and will be doing his best to undermine Pakistan’s confidence ahead of said test.
That has left Volts coach Rob Walter with no choice but to name an inexperienced attack.
Seamers Michael Rae and Jack Hunter come into the side, while leg-spinner Rhys Phillips gets another opportunity.
Rae and Hunter are yet to play for Otago this season but Hunter had a sound rookie campaign last summer. He picked up 15 first-class wickets at 33.40 and bowled particularly well during a 61-run win against Northern Districts at the University Oval in February. He hit a lovely length and got some nice shape.
Rae, however, has had a tough start to his first-class career. The 21-year-old made his debut against Northern Districts two years ago and has eight wickets at a monster average of 60.37. Phillips is still making his way at first-class level with eight games under his belt.
Sam Wells, who carried the drinks in the last round, and Christi Viljoen have played more than 120 first-class games between them, so Otago has some seasoned campaigners in the attack to turn to.
Anaru Kitchen and Josh Finnie are also bowling options should the wicket suit the slow bowlers.
Walter is aware taking 20 wickets will be a challenge for his attack but he is also excited to see what the incoming players can achieve.
"It is obviously a great opportunity for the likes of Michael Rae and Jack Hunter, who have been doing all the prep and now have the potential opportunity to play and have an impact," he said.
"They have been going well [in training]. They’ve been putting in a huge effort for some time now."
One area Walter will not have any concerns about is the top-order batting.
Openers Hamish Rutherford and Brad Wilson have scored two hundreds each and have posted three 100-run opening stands. As a partnership this season, they average 88.5.
That stable platform has helped the rest of the order flourish. Neil Broom and Kitchen have also registered centuries and Finnie, who was out for 98 in the last match, has three half centuries.
"The batting unit has been rolling it out quite nicely. There are still improvements to be made and the way we go about things . . . but we are pretty happy with six hundreds in three games.
"But from a bowling point of view we have to find a way."
Top-order batsman Ryan Duffy was not considered for selection. He is still recovering from a concussion.
Injured-plagued fast bowler Warren Barnes is still not ready for demands of first-class cricket. He is building up his bowling loads and should be available in time for Otago’s opening twenty20 match against Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval on December 4.
Otago team
to play Canterbury
Brad Wilson, Hamish Rutherford, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Josh Finnie, Anaru Kitchen, Derek de Boorder, Sam Wells, Christi Viljoen, Michael Rae, Jack Hunter, Rhys Phillips.
