Melbourne Renegades batsman Tom Beaton spent part of his Christmas flying to New Zealand to join the Volts in time for their return twenty20 match against Canterbury in Alexandra today. He will replace Neil Broom, who was recalled to the Black Caps a little over a week ago.
Initially, Otago was looking further afield for a replacement but coach Rob Walter had to narrow his search to Australia, given the time constraints.
And when he spoke to the Otago Daily Times on Friday night, he was still scratching at the surface to see what he could turn up.
But a verbal agreement was reached with Beaton on Saturday and he flew to Queenstown yesterday.
The 26-year-old former Australian under-19 captain has played 20 T20 matches for 283 runs at a average of 25.72.
He has played 12 first-class games and 11 one-dayers with limited success, but has an impressive T20 strike rate of 142.21.
Beaton is expected to play in Otago's next two games. Whether he remains for the rest of the tournament will depend on how he performs and who is available for the Volts.
Broom's absence will be sorely felt and the team will also be without in-form allrounder Jimmy Neesham.
Canterbury will be missing seamer Matt Henry and opening batsman Tom Latham.
All four players were named in the Black Caps squad for the one-day series against Bangladesh which gets under way at Hagley Oval at 11am.
Broom missed out against Canterbury on Friday but was in tremendous form before that. After five games he was the second-highest scorer with 204 runs at average of 68 and a strike rate of 144.68.
Only the man he replaced in the Black Caps line-up, Henry Nicholls, had scored more runs.
Neesham has taken eight wickets in the five games he has played at an average of 19.25, so he will be sorely missed from a bowling attack which has been patchy.
Fast bowler Warren Barnes dislocated his shoulder during the tense one-run win against Central Districts last week and will miss the remainder of the campaign. And Jacob Duffy was dropped after two games and will have to wait until the one-day tournament before he gets another opportunity.
''We are busy doing some work on his action and that is going to be key for him for the rest of the season,'' Walter said.
''Right now being thrown in to competition is not going to help that, so we are going to spend a couple of good weeks tinkering with a few things that need work.''
Otago is in third place and the top three teams will progress to the playoffs. Hanging on to that position will be a challenge.
The absence of Broom and Neesham has stripped the batting line-up of its most experience player and most destructive hitter respectively.
''It is certainly going to test the character of the guys, which is a great thing in itself. We'll get to see where we stand as a squad.
''At the end of the day you need to be stronger that just two individuals,'' Walter said.
Wellington beat Auckland by two runs on Saturday to turn the domestic twenty20 championship into a logjam.
Auckland remains on top and Wellington is still last but just two wins separate all six teams with four rounds remaining.
