Explosive Black Cap Glenn Phillips is set to join his younger brother, Dale, in Otago next year.
The Otago Daily Times understands the hard-hitting 25-year-old has made up his mind about shifting south.
While the move is not official yet, multiple sources have confirmed his plans to transfer from Auckland.
If Phillips does go ahead and make the move south, it will be a huge coup for the Volts, who have endured a tough season.
Otago finished last in the Super Smash, second to last in the Ford Trophy and are labouring near the bottom of the Plunket Shield.
With veterans Neil Broom and Anaru Kitchen retiring following the disappointing one-day campaign, Otago is left with some serious gaps to fill.
The ongoing absence of South African-born all-rounder Dean Foxcroft (locked out of the country due to Covid-19 border restrictions), and the departure of promising home-grown all-rounder Nathan Smith to Wellington, has decimated the talent pool.
Hopefully Foxcroft will return, and Phillips’ arrival would be a much needed good news story on the recruitment front.
He has been is fine form too. In four first-class games for Auckland this summer he has scored 296 runs at 49.33, including four half centuries.
Those runs have come at a rapid pace, which is not surprising. He is a quality T20 player who has turned out for the Black Caps in the format 35 times.
He has also made a one-off appearance in the test side, but has not cracked the one-day team yet.
Phillips started out as a wicketkeeper-batter but has abandoned his position behind the stumps and is working on developing his off-spin.
He is pretty handy too, nabbing eight first-class wickets this summer at an average of 18.
Meanwhile, his brother, Dale, has been named in the Otago team for its Plunket Shield match against Wellington in Dunedin beginning tomorrow.
The Volts have made two changes from the side which lost to Auckland by 158 runs at Molyneux Park last week.
Regular wicketkeeper Max Chu returns from isolation, and fast bowler Michael Rae’s injury-plagued season resumes. He replaces batter Thorn Parkes in the 12.
The Otago Daily Times understands the country’s largest cricket association, Northern Districts, will lean on the loan player system and name Wellington keeper Lauchlan Johns in its side for the match against Auckland in Whangarei beginning tomorrow.
Otago fielded loan keeper Ma’ara Ave last week and the move sparked some rich debate in the province. Some felt Otago, the smallest of the six major associations, should have blooded a development player instead.
It appears the system, though, is set to be used more often as New Zealand Cricket looks for ways to keep the country’s best players active and engaged rather than idle on the sideline.
Plunket Shield
Dunedin, tomorrow from 10.30am
Otago: Hamish Rutherford (captain), Mitch Renwick, Dale Phillips, Nick Kelly, Jacob Cumming, Michael Rippon, Max Chu, Travis Muller, Jacob Duffy, Ben Lockrose,
Michael Rae, Jarrod McKay.
Wellington: N/A
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Comments
Had to check it wasn't April 1st and another famous ODT April fools story!
This is great news for the Volts. If Foxcroft can get back with the border relaxations later this year then this will create some serious competition for batting spots. Who knows who else may venture south..............