Otago has signed former Black Cap Rob Nicol and promising all-rounder Shawn Hicks for the coming season as the side looks to increase its depth.
Otago Volts coach Rob Walter said Nicol (34) was moving south after deciding he wanted to look for a new challenge and was excited to head to Otago.
Hicks was a young, promising all-rounder who had played for national age group sides and was seen by the Volts as a batting all-rounder, who can also bowl some handy overs.
Walter said getting Nicol to head south from Auckland was a big boost for Otago.
``With losing Michael Bracewell then that obviously opens up a position in the top order. We have been lucky enough to get a player with the amount of experience that Rob has and with his other attributes we have pretty much got the complete package,'' Walter said.
During the past season Walter had struck up a bit of a relationship with Nicol and the former Black Cap had approached Walter about moving south.
``He sees a potential to come here and make a real impact. Make a difference to an association and a group of individuals.''
Nicol has played two tests, 22 one day internationals and 21 twenty/20 games for New Zealand although his last international appearance was in 2013 and his international days appear behind him.
Walter said Nicol really wanted to make an impact with Otago and would be involved in the captaincy of the Volts.
``He is dead keen. He has got a hell of a lot of cricket left in him. In the modern game of cricket players can play for a long time. He really wants to make a statement.''
Nicol made his first class debut in 2001 for Auckland and also played for Canterbury for a period.
He has played 121 first-class games, scoring 6144 runs at 34.13. He has scored 10 centuries and 37 half centuries.
Hicks, who will turn 22 next Monday, has played just nine first-class games and made his debut for Auckland in December, 2015.
He is a right-handed batsman, who also bowls right-arm medium fast deliveries.
Born in South Africa, he was educated at Auckland Grammar and played for the New Zealand under-19 side at the World Cup in Dubai in 2014.
Walter said Hicks has had limited opportunities in Auckland and was looking to get a decent crack in the south.
Hicks said with Otago players such as Jimmy Neesham looking to play for the national side, Hicks was a quality option.
``So if we have to look at changing our side we want to be able to do that and not change it too much.''
He said Hicks had been used as a bowling all rounder with Auckland but may be more of a batting option for Otago.
Hicks has yet to make a mark on the first-class scene, having scored one half century and taken six wickets.
Walter confirmed all-rounder Sam Wells had retired and both Anaru Kitchen and Brad Wilson were set to return this season for Otago.
The first batch of domestic contracts were set to be announced next Monday and all 15 contracted players for Otago to be confirmed by the end of the month.
Walter said the new additions would boost the depth of the side.
