Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham and impressive pace bowler Warren Barnes will sit out Otago's Plunket Shield match against Wellington beginning at the Basin Reserve today.
Neesham has been struggling with a back complaint which saw him return from New Zealand's tour of Australia at the conclusion of the first test.
He has since returned to cricket, playing for the Volts as a specialist batsman.
Barnes is another player with a history of back complaints and has also been given the game off.
Otago coach Nathan King said neither were ready for the extra demands of four-day cricket.
‘‘[Jimmy] just had not had enough of a workload to be deemed ready to play four-day cricket,'' King said.
‘‘[Warren] has had a pretty busy five to six weeks. But his loads are not at a stage where he is ready to play four-day cricket.
‘‘And just given his history of injuries, we just wanted to be a bit on the safe side and give him a little bit of time off and hopefully have him ready for the start of the one-day campaign.''
Barnes was the joint leading wicket-taker in the twenty20 competition with 15 wickets and strike rate of a wicket every 16 balls.
The 23-year-old would have been a very handy addition to the first-class team and shapes as a key player in the one-day campaign.
Contracted left-armer Craig Smith has been playing Hawke Cup cricket but has also been ruled out due to fitness.
With Neesham, Barnes and Smith not considered, young seamers Michael Rae and Jack Hunter retain their places.
Veteran left-armer Bradley Scott is rewarded for a strong twenty20 campaign with a place in the 12, and Carisbrook-Dunedin leg-spinner Rhys Phillips replaces left-arm spinner Nick Beard in the squad.
Beard was forced to remodel his action last summer and there is still some fine-tuning to do.
‘‘There are still some things for [Beard] to work through and following those Plunket Shield games [at the beginning of the season] there were a couple of things that were identified,'' King said.
‘‘He has been progressing that really well but we just think the time is right to give Rhys an opportunity and he deserves that opportunity.''
Phillips made his debut last summer and performed well, with nine wickets in three matches.
Otago's top order looks strong with Hamish Rutherford, Brad Wilson, Michael Bracewell and Neil Broom all very accomplished players.
Anaru Kitchen will make his first-class debut for the province. He missed the opening two matches after he broke a bone in his hand during the pre-season.
He was striking the ball nicely during the twenty20 campaign and will add some punch to the middle order.
Otago (eight points) is at the bottom of the Plunket Shield competition standings with two losses from two matches.
Wellington is in second place with 21 points. Black Caps limited-overs wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi is a notable inclusion. He replaces Matt Taylor.
