The competition's leading wicket-taker was given last week off to rest "a few niggles" but as it turns out he would not have been required to do too much work.
Otago's Plunket Shield game against Canterbury in Rangiora was cut short by poor weather. The home side was able to rescue first-innings points but the last round was effectively a stalemate, with the top of the leaderboard not altering too much.
The game between competition leader Central Districts (29 points) and second-placed Northern Districts (27) lasted just 8.2 overs and was called off early on the final day. Canterbury is on 25 points, and Wellington (25) moved ahead of Otago (22) with an outright win against Auckland.
With two rounds remaining, just seven points separate the top five teams and only Auckland (8) is out of contention. Five teams could still win the competition but time is running out and Otago will need to pick up some points.
Wagner's return is a boost and he replaces opening batsman Michael Bracewell in the 12.
The South African-born left-armer has had a summer to remember. He started the season with six for 55 against Northern Districts in Queenstown and followed that performance with a 10-wicket bag against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park.
Despite missing the last round, Wagner is still the competition's leading wicket-taker with 39 victims at an average of 18.84 - 10 wickets clear of Canterbury's Todd Astle with 29 at 27.93.
Wagner's potency has not been limited to the bowling crease. His batting has really improved over the last 18 months. Remarkably, he boasts the 10th-best average in the competition with 252 runs at 50.40.
His average has been inflated with four not-outs in nine innings but he has scored two 50s and his runs have come in quite an orthodox fashion, albeit with a good dose of aggression.
He is still a year away from qualifying to play for New Zealand. While that is bad news for the Black Caps, it is good news for Otago, which will get another full summer out of the 25-year-old.
Northern has stuck with the same 12 it selected for the game against Central. The home side has a potent attack with experienced campaigners Graeme Aldridge (25 wickets at 20.20) and Brent Arnel (16 at 23.25) and impressive left-armer Trent Boult (27 at 21.66).
Batting-wise, Brad Wilson has had a fine season with 694 runs at 57.83, including two 100s and five 50s. BJ Watling is also averaging more than 50 with 420 runs and the Marshall brothers, James and Hamish, complete a useful top order.
In other matches, Auckland will host Canterbury and Wellington will play Central Districts at the Basin Reserve.
OTAGO v ND
- Hamilton, starting today
• Otago: Craig Cumming (captain), Aaron Redmond, Shaun Haig, Neil Broom, Darren Broom, Derek de Boorder, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Ian Butler, Warren McSkimming, Nick Beard, Craig Smith.
• Northern Districts: James Marshall (captain), BJ Watling, Brad Wilson, Daniel Flynn, Hamish Marshall, Peter McGlashan, Jono Boult, Trent Boult, Graeme Aldridge, Jason Donnelly, Brent Arnel, James Baker.
