One of the great things about cricket is it gives you, the reader and fan, plenty of opportunities to debate which players would fill a best XI.
Now you get to test your selections against a panel of experts, and the opportunity of winning a great prize.
The Otago Daily Times and the Otago Cricket Association are joining forces this summer to recognise the greatest cricketers in the long history of the summer game in Otago.
Soon we will invite readers to pick an all-time Otago XI, based on first-class performances for the province.
Starting early next month, we will profile the leading batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders and wicketkeepers in Otago history.
Using those potted biographies plus statistics plus your own analysis, your task is simple: pick a playing XI, plus a 12th man.
The person who picks a team closest to ours wins the prize - but we won't be telling you what that is until later.
Keep reading for more details. Enjoy the summer of cricket.
Summer of cricket
FIVE TO WATCH
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The Otago all-rounder had a breakout season, emerging from the background to take centre stage last summer. He took five for 75 against Canterbury in his first outing - his maiden first-class five-wicket bag - and backed up with five for 26 against Central Districts. He followed those efforts with his maiden first-class century, against Wellington in Queenstown, and finished the season with a haul of 478 runs at an average of 59.75.
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The big-hitting Australian will suit up for Northern Districts in the HRV Cup. The ambidextrous opening batsman burst on to the international scene two years ago with a punishing 89 from 43 balls in his twenty/20 debut. That performance was quickly rewarded with a gig in the Indian Premier League side, and a contract to use a two-sided bat also followed.
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The Auckland left-handed opener is one of the most exciting New Zealand prospects to emerge in many a year. In just his second first-class match, he scored 256 in a marathon nine-hour innings, and in 11 first-class matches he has scored 821 runs at an impressive average of 51.31. It is a matter of when, not if, the Indian-born 22-year-old will play international cricket.
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He has been dubbed the next big thing since he made his first-class debut as a promising 17-year-old for Northern Districts in December 2007. Some brilliant domestic form resulted in his elevation to the national team. He struggled early, with scores of 0, 0 and 13 in his first three ODI innings. But his century against Bangladesh recently was billed as his coming of age. Plenty is expected from the 20-year-old.
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Who is going to stop the little maestro raking up his 50th, 51st and 52nd test centuries? It is hard to imagine New Zealand's attack of Tim Southee, Andy McKay and the ageing Chris Martin will give the world's most complete batsman any pause for thought. Let the worshipping begin.
THREE BIG GAMES
> Otago's twenty/20 fixture against Northern Districts in Mt Maunganui on December 19. With overseas stars Herschelle Gibbs and David Warner bolstering the home side's batting line-up, it is a mouthwatering clash.
> Don't forget that New Zealand has a proud record at the World Cup and always finds a way to lift when playing Australia. The Black Caps' pool match against the defending champion in India on February 25 should be worth the eight-hour stint in front of the telly.
> The Ashes is simply not to be missed. The last time the series was in Australia, the English were thumped 5-0. But England regained the urn against a new-look Australian team at home in 2009. The first test starts in Brisbane on November 25.
