Otago has named North East Valley captain and wicketkeeper Adam Miles in its 14-strong squad for its four-day warm-up game against Canterbury in Rangiora next week.
Regular Otago wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder will miss Otago's first two Plunket Shield fixtures while on duty with New Zealand A, so Volts coach Nathan King wants to get a close look at the glove work of Miles.
''We need to use another wicketkeeper in this warm-up game and see whether he is ready to play at this level,'' King said.
''He performed well at the national A tournament last year. He has done a lot of work pre-season both with the gloves and with his batting and fully deserves the opportunity.''
Carisbrook-Dunedin leg spinner Rhys Phillips was called into the Otago team late last summer and gets an opportunity to press for more game time.
He took nine wickets in three first-class games and bowled very well.
Black Caps offspinner Mark Craig is available for Otago's opening Plunket Shield match against Central Districts beginning on October 15.
But he will then travel to Australia with the national side as it seeks its first test series victory across the ditch in 30 years.
Craig's departure will present Phillips with an opportunity to add to his three caps.
He will compete for a spot in the squad with left-arm spinner Nick Beard, who has remodelled his action after it was ruled illegal last season, and Nathan McCullum.
The game will be a chance for new recruits Brad Wilson and Anaru Kitchen to impress.
Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has been named and will feature during the first two days before joining the national team in Hamilton for its pink ball trial.
Australia has postponed its two-test tour of Bangladesh amid terrorism fears, AAP reports.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said an independent security assessment confirmed the ''risk of terrorism in Bangladesh targeting Australian nationals''.
Otago squad
To play Canterbury
Roald Badenhorst, Nick Beard, Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder, Ryan Duffy, Josh Finnie, Anaru Kitchen, Adam Miles, Jimmy Neesham, Rhys Phillips, Michael Rae, Bradley Scott, Sam Wells, Brad Wilson.
