Otago Cricket yesterday announced left arm seamer Bradley Scott will transfer to Northern Districts next season.
Since making his debut for Otago in 2000-01, Scott has played 43 first-class matches taking 142 wickets at an average of 25.
In one-day cricket he took 69 wickets at 31.39 and chipped in 414 runs at 20.70.
But what the statistics do not reveal is the wholehearted way he played the game.
A faithful Green Island stalwart, Scott played as hard for his club as he did Otago and never anticipated leaving the province.
When Scott's wife, Jennie, moved to Hamilton last year for a teaching job, he returned to play for Otago out of a sense of loyalty, and because he felt he had some unfinished business.
But he has decided the time is right to put his family first.
"When you ask someone to be your wife, I think you owe her that commitment, and that takes preference over who you play cricket for," Scott said from Hamilton yesterday.
"It was a very tough decision, though. If you cut my hand open, it will still be running blue and gold."
Scott rang around some of his team-mates on Thursday.
"That was probably one of the hardest things. I've known Warren [McSkimming] for years and he was probably one of the more difficult people to tell."
Both Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes and Volts coach Mike Hesson were disappointed to lose Scott's services but understood his decision.
"Bradley is an outstanding cricketer and a very fine human being who will be a huge asset to any team he plays for," Dykes said. "We wish him well in his cricketing future."
Hesson said Scott's performances on the field had been outstanding and his exploits "were certainly a major part of the State Otago Volts winning the State Shield".
