The Volts are hosting Central Districts and will be looking to get off the bottom of the Plunket Shield standings.
Despite being in the runs, the team is yet to make a dent in the win column, but has received a boost ahead of today’s fixture.
Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has returned from national duty and will be looking forward to an opportunity to polish his skills ahead of the test series against Pakistan later this month.
His inclusion bolsters the batting line-up, which also features the return of Michael Bracewell. The left-hander fractured a bone in his hand six weeks ago but resumed batting this week. He got through training unscathed yesterday and looked in reasonable touch, while middle order batsman and part-time left-arm spinner Anaru Kitchen returns from leave. His wife recently gave birth to the couple’s second child.
The trio will add clout to what is a formidable top six for Otago. Openers Brad Wilson and Hamish Rutherford and seasoned campaigner Neil Broom have combined for four hundreds in two games. Wilson is the competition’s leading scorer with 319 runs at an average of 106.33. Broom is in second place and also has an average north of 100, while Rutherford is in fifth spot with 231 runs.
"It is probably not far off a full-strength team; so happy to have those guys back," Otago coach Rob Walter said.
"The batting unit has done pretty well already so to strengthen an already confident batting line-up is always a good thing."
Walter’s dilemma is how to squeeze everyone into the top half of the batting line-up.
The opening partnership is set. Broom commands the No4 spot and Bracewell will slot in at No3. But Neesham, Kitchen and Josh Finnie, who made 60 in his last innings, will all have designs on batting at No5. The unavailability of top-order batsman Ryan Duffy has eased some pressure. In the two-wicket defeat to Auckland, he was struck by a Lockie Ferguson bouncer and was not considered for selection.
Otago has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to all-rounders as well. Neesham, Sam Wells and Christi Viljoen all perform a similar role.
Wells and Viljoen carried a heavy workload against Auckland so one of them might get a rest, especially since Otago’s seam attack will be underpowered for its round-four match against Canterbury in Invercargill.
Jacob Duffy will be playing for New Zealand A in a tour game against Pakistan and will miss the Canterbury game. And, while the Black Caps test side has not been named yet, you can ink in left-armer Neil Wagner and Neesham.
Otago will have to wait a little longer to see Black Caps off-spinner Mark Craig back in action.
He suffered a side strain on the tour of India and is still recovering.
"I suppose there is a small hope he might be back for [round five]. It is touch and go," Walter said.
Round five gets under way on November 22 with Otago playing Wellington at the University Oval. After that, the Plunket Shield goes into hiatus until late February while the twenty20 and one-day tournaments are staged.
Meanwhile, Central Districts have named Black Caps pace bowler Doug Bracewell in their 12. His return is timely following injuries to Seth Rance and Andrew Mathieson. Ben Wheeler is also out while he recovers from a concussion.
Plunket Shield
Otago v Central Districts
University Oval, starts today
Otago: Brad Wilson (captain), Hamish Rutherford, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Anaru Kitchen, Jimmy Neesham, Derek de Boorder, Sam Wells, Christi Viljoen, Neil Wagner, Jacob Duffy, Josh Finnie.
Central Districts: Greg Hay, Ben Smith, Mitchell Renwick, Will Young (captain), Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver, Doug Bracewell, Navin Patel, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner, Liam Dudding, Christian Leopard.
