Bracewell was the new player in the 13-man squad named yesterday to play the first two one-day games of the season.
He scored an impressive 156 in a trial match on Wednesday at the University Oval and, though he backed that up with a duck yesterday, in a rain-shortened match, that big innings was enough to convince the selectors to include him in the squad.
Otago coach Mike Hesson said that, in the end, it was a no-brainer to pick Bracewell.
"We asked guys to make our job easy in terms of playing match-winning innings and that is exactly what he did," Hesson said.
"It was a superb innings. Facing a stiff target and he batted superbly.
"He has always been a very promising player and we have picked him and we hope he makes a valuable contribution."
Bracewell (19) would open the innings with Aaron Redmond, and look to give Otago a sound start.
Hesson said Shaun Haig was unlucky to miss out and had not done anything wrong, but it was impossible to leave Bracewell out.
Otherwise, Otago has named a predictable line-up for the first two games, against Wellington in Alexandra on Sunday, and then Canterbury in Queenstown next Wednesday.
Otago may also look at calling English import Darren Stevens into the one-day squad.
Stevens is included in the 30-man England training squad for next month's world cup and is staying in the country.
Hesson said he would be considered for selection after the fourth game, against Northern Districts in Invercargill on January 19.
However, it depended on how many of Otago's players were in the New Zealand one-day squad to play Pakistan.
He was happy with Otago's depth and so did not see a need for Stevens until the middle of the month.
Stevens was training with the squad and was also doing a bit of travelling with his partner, who was in the country, to maintain fitness.
Meanwhile, the second trial match played at the University Oval yesterday was abandoned after just half an hour because of wet weather.
The Cumming XI was 27 for two wickets, with Neil Wagner taking both wickets, when play was called off.
The wet weather has been following the Otago side around and Hesson hoped for fine weather in Alexandra on Sunday.
It would be very unusual to get two washed-out days in a row at Molyneux Park.
Otago
One-day team:
Craig Cumming (captain), Nick Beard, Derek de Boorder, Michael Bracewell, Darren Broom, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Nathan McCullum, James McMillan, Warren McSkimming, Aaron Redmond, Neil Wagner, Sam Wells.
