![Otago all-rounder Luke Georgeson has made a impressive start to his list A career. PHOTO: GREGOR...](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_portrait_medium_3_4/public/story/2023/11/luke_georgeson.jpg?itok=LGYMUOOF)
The 24-year-old Wellington-born all-rounder has started in all four Plunket Shield games for Otago this season with mixed success.
He had his best outing for the Volts last week. He nabbed a career-best four for 33 in the first innings and did his best to help the Volts secure a win on the last day with an unbeaten 65.
The left-hander ran out of support and the Volts slipped to a 34-run loss to Northern Districts in Dunedin.
But this next part of the summer should suit the Volts a lot more. They are a better white-ball team and Georgeson is a better white-ball player.
In 17 list A games he has scored 675 runs at an impressive average of 39.70. His strike rate of 73.13 could do with a boost.
He will get an opportunity to do that today.
Georgeson has been named in the Volts lineup for their opening Ford Trophy match, which is against Auckland in Invercargill.
"I’ve probably had the most success with white-ball cricket historically, and I think we’ve got a side more suited to white-ball cricket," Georgeson said.
"I like it [list A] because it gives you a taste of everything. You get a bit of red-ball cricket at the start [where you have to be watchful] and the middle is unique to one-day cricket. And the death is like T20, so in that sense you get a range of cricket.
"It is my best format at the moment but I’ve always enjoyed red-ball cricket because it is hard. To win a game is incredibly difficult."
Georgeson was cagey on what his role in the Volts one-day squad would be. But he has previously opened for Wellington and enjoyed a lot of success at the top, so he is likely to join Hamish Rutherford at the top of the innings.
"It is where I’ve always batted ... but I’m open to batting where the team needs me.
"The easy thing about opening is your job is pretty much the same every time, whereas when you are batting down the order you have to think about it more."
The Volts have tried to spring the odd surprise. Max Chu opened with Rutherford towards the end of the Ford Trophy last season, so he might be an option.
Georgeson grew up in Wellington and went to St Patrick’s College and attended Victoria University of Wellington.
He opted to move south this season in search of more regular game time and has moved into a flat with team-mates Ben Lockrose and Chu.
"It was just about opportunity. I knew Dion [Ebrahim, Otago coach] through age group cricket ... and he just said there would be some opportunity down here if I was interested. The cards fell that way and here I am."
Georgeson played alongside Dale Phillips, Lockrose and Chu in the New Zealand under-19 team, so the shift south was not as intimidating as it might have otherwise been.
Today’s match against Auckland is for the Ross Dykes Memorial Trophy. Dykes’ long career in cricket included a playing stint for Auckland as well as serving as Otago Cricket Association chief executive.
Otago will be keen to keep the trophy and start their campaign well.
Seamer Travis Muller has been included in the 12, and spinner Ollie White is in line for a potential debut.
Auckland have named all-rounder Jock McKenzie in their lineup. He has been on the selectors’ radar for a while after strong performances at club level.
Ford Trophy
Invercargill, 10.30am
Otago: Hamish Rutherford, Luke Georgeson, Dean Foxcroft (captain), Dale Phillips, Thorn Parkes, Llew Johnson, Max Chu, Ben Lockrose, Travis Muller, Jacob Duffy, Matt Bacon, Ollie White.
Auckland: Finn Allen, George Worker, Will O’Donnell, Robbie O’Donnell, Sean Solia (captain), Cameron Fletcher, Ryan Harrison, Danru Ferns, Louis Delport, Adi Ashok, Matt Gibson, Jock McKenzie.