No major changes expected for Volts

PHOTO: ODT FILES
PHOTO: ODT FILES
Consistency.

That is the whisper around the Otago contract offers for the upcoming season.

The Volts only have one vacancy to fill.

Veteran opener Hamish Rutherford retired last season and his spot will go to Canterbury left-hander Leo Carter, who has signalled his intention to move south this summer.

The unofficial word is the rest are back for another stint, although there might be the odd tweak.

Batter Jamal Todd arguably did enough to nab a contract offer.

Jamal Todd
Jamal Todd
He showed some promise with a couple of nice knocks in the Plunket Shield.

His 64 against Canterbury was notable. The opposition had a very decent seam attack that included Black Cap Kyle Jamieson, Fraser Sheat and former Volts quick Michael Rae.

While it does not appear there will be many more changes than Carter coming in and Todd perhaps picking up a contract, there are talent gaps.

As a unit, the Volts batters did not fire last season. But there is belief in the camp they can turn it around.

Carter has a useful first-class record. The 29-year-old has scored 2686 runs at an average of 30.87, including three centuries.

His list A record —1238 runs at 34.38 — is good, and he needs one more run to post 1000 T20 runs.

But the player the Volts will need to squeeze more out of is captain Dean Foxcroft.

He had a disappointing season with the bat, and his form is so crucial for the Volts.

Ironically, it is the bowling where the Volts could run into the most trouble.

The seam attack is getting on a bit.

Matt Bacon and Travis Muller (both 31) have left their 20s behind, and Jacob Duffy and Andrew Hazeldine will both clock 30 before the season starts.

Leo Carter
Leo Carter
Luke Georgeson was a revelation with the ball (and bat), but the Volts could do with some new blood to strengthen the seaming stocks.

They have leaned too heavily on Duffy and they have had "a seamer or two" on the wishlist for several years but have not being able to entice a frontline bowler to make the move.

The Volts could definitely do with another spin option as the departure of wrist spinner Michael Rippon to Canterbury last year was a big blow.

In his absence, the Volts were effectively left with one specialist spinner in Ben Lockrose, and the left-armer had a rough first-class campaign. He took 10 wickets at an average of 56.70.

Foxcroft, who is arguably more of a part-timer, out-performed him, taking 15 wickets at 32.46 to dilute the perceived weakness.

Black Cap Glenn Phillips has developed into a tidy spinner, but he is not available for the Volts very often.

First round contract offers are expected to be made to Otago players on July 12 and the announcement will follow on July 18.

Otago Volts

Possible contracts

Matt Bacon, Max Chu, Leo Carter, Jacob Cumming, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Luke Georgeson, Jake Gibson, Andrew Hazeldine, Llew Johnson, Ben Lockrose, Jarrod McKay, Travis Muller, Thorn Parkes, Dale Phillips, Glenn Phillips (NZ), Jamal Todd.

adrian.seconi@odt.co.nz

OUTSTREAM