She has been named in the Sparks side to host Central Districts at the University Oval today.
The Otago wicketkeeper-batter missed the opening two games against Northern Districts last weekend to attend brother, Henry’s, wedding.
The 26-year-old is taking over the gloves from Katey Martin this season. Martin, who retired this year, had a mortgage on the role for 21 seasons.
Inglis has filled in plenty, but this is her opportunity to cement herself in the spot and push for higher honours.
Her batting had come on in the past few seasons and her presence in the middle order would be a big boost, coach Craig Cumming said.
"It is great opportunity for Polly to be in as a wicketkeeper and she gives us more batting cover. And she is a leader on and off the field as well," he said.
"We are looking forward to having her back and that will make us stronger all round.
"But Sophie [Gray] did a good job when she was there, digging us out of a sticky situation."
Gray filled in behind the stumps when Inglis and back-up keeper Olivia Gain were unavailable.
Gain and Paige Loggenberg are with the New Zealand Development team in India and will miss today’s game.
Spinner Eden Carson missed the opening round with a shin injury and is bracketed with Jordan Meltzer for tomorrow’s game.
Carson was the Sparks’ leading wicket-taker in both formats last season. Her performances caught the attention of the selectors and she made her international debut in July.
The leading priority for the Sparks this week has been about executing the bowling plans better. They gave up too many runs, but they did also come up against some good batting last weekend.
Northern Districts secured a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern assisted 47-run win on Saturday and was on track to post a win on Sunday after smashing 308 for four from 45.3 overs.
Bernadine Bezuidenhout backed up her 62 not out with 101 in a star performance.
Cumming described her batting as some of the best he had seen in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.
"That was probably the best domestic innings I’ve watched since I’ve been coach other than Suzie Bates," he said.
"She was outstanding in the way she manipulated the field and hit holes. That is what batting is all about."
It gave the Sparks a solid lesson about where they needed to brush up for today’s match.
Manawatu right-arm pace bowler Jess Ogden (20) is in line to make her debut for Central.
Strike bowler Rosemary Mair is unavailable, and top-order batter Emily Cunningham is out with a calf niggle.
The Hinds had a convincing six-wicket win over the Auckland Hearts at Pukekura Park last Saturday, followed by a washout.
Hallyburton Johnstone Shield
University Oval, today, 10.30am
Otago Sparks: Felicity Leydon-Davis (captain), Gemma Adams, Emma Black, Caitlin Blakely, Eden Carson/Jordan Meltzer, Chloe Deerness, Kate Ebrahim, Polly Inglis, Sophie Gray, Molly Loe, Sophie Oldershaw, Saffron Wilson.
Central Hinds: Natalie Dodd (captain), Jess Watkin, Georgia Atkinson, Claudia Green, Mikaela Greig, Melissa Hansen, Kate Gaging, Jessica Ogden, Cate Pedersen, Monique Rees, Hannah Rowe, Kerry Tomlinson.
