Results
One-day: last (3 wins, 4 losses, 1 abandoned)
Twenty20: last (3 wins, 7 losses)
In a nutshell
Otago was hugely affected by injury and that played a large part in the disappointing results. The team was forced into fast-forwarding the development of too many players. And some of the older players did not deliver on their potential.
The team that didn't play
Otago put out some inexperienced teams throughout the season. That is probably best illustrated by the players who, for various reasons, were not available for the last game of the season.
How is this for an Otago team? Hamish Rutherford, Ryan Duffy, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Jimmy Neesham, Josh Finnie, Michael Rippon, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Jacob Duffy, Warren Barnes.
Even without a wicketkeeper, the ``Unavailables'' look pretty decent on paper.
Worst game
Otago coach Rob Walter was unimpressed by his side's effort against Canterbury in the Plunket Shield game at Hagley Oval in mid-March. The team lost by an innings and 119 runs. A pitiful effort with the bat of 140 in the first innings put victory out of reach for the the Volts. Only Brad Wilson was able to show any tenacity with his knock of 70, and Derek de Boorder dug in during the second innings with a battling half-century.
Best game
Otago made a strong finish to the one-day campaign with three wins in its last four games.
It looked like the Volts might be turning the corner. Import Michael Rippon made an impact with his left-arm legspin and as a makeshift opener.
But Otago saved the best for last with Anaru Kitchen blasting 143 not out to steer the Volts to a two-wicket win against Northern Districts in its last round-robin game.
Top drawer
Kitchen rediscovered his touch with his sparkling one-day innings of 143 not out.
But it was in the Plunket Shield in which he really shone. He scored four centuries, including a double century in the last game of the summer to finished the tournament as the second-highest scorer with 695 runs at an average of 63.15.
Wilson provided the starch in the Otago top order and was the Plunket Shield's top scorer with 730 runs at 45.62.
He got pushed down the order in the limited-overs formats and might have been more effective further up.
Next drawer down
All-rounder Josh Finnie made good progress this season. He looked out of his depth with the ball but performed well with the bat. He averaged more than 40 in both the one-day and first-class formats but his season was cut short due to Volts disease - a broken bone in his hand.
Fast bowler Michael Rae was one of the big improvers for Otago. He bowled with tremendous energy and is quite quick. He still has some control issues, though.
Nathan Smith claimed his first five-wicket bag and, for an 18-year-old, sure does not look out of place. Potentially, he could be a quality all-rounder for the province.
The cupboard down the end of the hall
Leg-spinner Rhys Phillips mixed up the odd million-dollar ball with a load of rubbish.
Michael Bracewell has had two very lean years at first-class level and was dropped after the debacle in Christchurch, having scored just 160 runs at an average 17.77 this season.
Jacob Duffy spent two months in bowling boot camp remodelling his action. He still has some work to get back to the bowler he was a few short years ago.
Warren Barnes is a good bowler but he is always, always injured.
Sean Eathorne has not been able to grab his opportunities. He has played 11 first-class games since making his debut in March 2005. He has a high scored of 28 and an average of 9.84. Might be time to admit defeat.
Questions
Will coach Walter ring the changes now that he is in charge of contracting the players? He inherited the current crop of some of them are probably quite nervous.
Will the Volts spend more preparing and playing in Central Otago as they look for an innovative solution to break their 29-year Plunket Shield drought?
How many players will break a bone in their hand next season? There were at least six this season.
