The selectors for the Volts cricket team for the 2022-23 domestic season, from left: Sam Wells, Dion Ebrahim and Josh Tasman-Jones. PHOTOS: ODT FILES
Otago has drafted in a couple of former players to join the selection panel.
All-rounder Sam Wells and top-order batter Josh Tasman-Jones will join head coach Dion Ebrahim as selectors for the Volts for the 2022-23 domestic season.
Wells has been named convener of selectors and takes over from Steve Martin, who is now the high performance manager for the Otago Cricket Association.
Tasman-Jones replaces Volts captain Hamish Rutherford on the panel.
Wells and Tasman-Jones play alongside each other at Albion, so they will be familiar with each other’s approach to the game.
Their Volts careers also briefly overlapped. Wells played the last of his 63 first-class games in March 2017. Tasman-Jones made his first-class debut in that game and went on to make seven first-class appearances and played in eight Super Smash games.
He was called into the T20 side last season and batted quite nicely at the top of the order. He would have been half a chance to make this side again this season, but has opted to help the team in a different way.
Wells was a more accomplished first-class player.
He scored 2588 runs at an average of 30.44 in 61 games for Otago and also made a strong impression in two outings for New Zealand A.
Wells, who is a lawyer, also played 43 list A and 37 T20 games for the province.
The left-hand batter and right-arm bowler is one of only five players to score a century and take five wickets in an innings for Otago.
He made 100 not out against an attack which included Matt Henry, Andrew Ellis, Todd Astle and Logan van Beek, having earlier accounted for the likes of Peter Fulton, Dean Brownlie and Shanan Stewart with the ball.
Ebrahim believes the pair’s knowledge and expertise across club and domestic cricket will be valuable in the selection process.
‘‘Both men understand domestic cricket and the process of selection. I am looking forward to working closely with both Sam and Josh over the coming campaigns,’’ he said.
Wells was delighted to give back to the association.
"Otago Cricket has given me a lot and this opportunity provides me with a chance to give back to the game I love. I believe I can support Dion and the team with managing a robust selection process".
