The 19-year-old left-hand opening batsman, son of former Otago and New Zealand player Ken Rutherford, is one of three newcomers named in the Otago team to play Northern Districts in its opening four-day game.
South African-born left-arm swing bowler Neil Wagner and former Black Caps pace bowler Ian Butler will also make their debut for the province.
While Wagner and Butler were expected to be named in the 12, Rutherford's inclusion came as a bit of surprise to the teenager.
"When I heard my name I was surprised," he said.
"I'm sort of still a little shocked.
"But in saying that I knew I had scored runs and whatnot, so I would have been gutted if I'd missed out."
The former Otago Boys High School pupil has been in a rich vein of form in club and district cricket this summer, notching two centuries. He also scored 75 not out during a trial match against Canterbury in Lincoln earlier this month.
"I worked really hard over the winter and I learnt a lot about my game over the last year."
Rutherford joined Albion spinner Nick Beard and University-Grange wicketkeeper-batsman Michael Bracewell in the New Zealand side that contested the under-19 world cup in Malaysia earlier this year.
He played in some of the warm-up matches but had to watch the tournament from the sidelines after being overlooked by the selectors.
"Being over there and having the disappointment of not making the team, it showed me that I don't want to be in that position again."
Where he wants to be is in the Black Caps eventually.
Ken Rutherford, who played 56 tests and averaged just over 27 with the bat, is living in Singapore working for the Singapore Pools (Singapore's version of the TAB).
Hamish Rutherford said his father had always encouraged both him and his younger brother, Tom (17).
He gets his opportunity with regular opener Aaron Redmond on duty with the Black Caps in Australia. Contracted player Leighton Morgan has been overlooked, with both Rutherford and Shaun Haig getting the nod on sheer volume of runs scored.
Otago medium-pacer Warren McSkimming and left-arm seamer Craig Smith were not considered because of injury. McSkimming is nursing a strained calf and is expected to be fit for the second-round match against Canterbury in Invercargill later this month.
Smith has a hamstring strain and is two or three weeks away from a return.
Otago v ND : Teams
• Otago: Craig Cumming (c), Hamish Rutherford, Greg Todd, Neil Broom, Shaun Haig, Nathan McCullum, Derek de Boorder, Sam Wells, Ian Butler, Neil Wagner, James McMillan, Mat Harvie.
• Northern Districts: James Marshall (captain), Graeme Aldridge, Brent Arnel, Trent Boult, Peter McGlashan, Bruce Martin, Cameron Merchant, Michael Parlane, Bradley Scott, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, Joseph Yovich.
