The Otago Country selectors have rung the changes for the zone 4 Hawke Cup elimination game against Mid Canterbury in Alexandra this weekend.
Four players will debut for the team that also includes three players in their first season of cricket at this level.
In what is a dead rubber, after North Otago secured the coming Hawke Cup challenge by beating the same opposition last week, the selectors have rewarded players who have shown good form in early-season club cricket - all with an eye to the future.
The Maniototo trio of Sam Pringle, 16-year-old wicketkeeper Rueben Pyle and Willie Miller join Blacks Hill allrounder Drew van Boxtel as the debutants.
The selection of Pyle mirrors that of his brother, James, who was also selected as a 16-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman several years ago, and who fashioned an impressive Hawke Cup career before stepping down a couple of years ago to concentrate on his contracting business.
Both Pyle boys have followed their father, John, who played for Otago Country in the early 1980s.
Miller, the Otago country cricket development officer, is a strapping medium-pace bowler and handy lower-order batsman who has shown some promising club form.
Among a reasonably young side are the experienced quartet of Tim McCormick, Barry White, Mark Knox and new captain, Cam Fawkner.
These four will be the foundation of the top and middle order.
Mid Canterbury will be trying hard to finish its season on a high after not performing up to its own expectations so far this season.
Andrew Douglas, the Molyneux Park groundsman, has produced a pitch with a little more green than usual for the park but it should still play well.
The match starts at 10.30am each day.
- Malcolm Jones
Zone 4 Hawke Cup
Elimination game
Otago Country: Cam Fawkner (c), Sam Pringle, Henry Burns, Tim McCormick, Barry White, Mark Knox, Rueben Pyle, Willie Miller, Drew van Boxtel, Tom Myles and Sanchit Sandhu.
Mid Canterbury: James Southby, Will Southby, Callum Gallagher, Des Kruger, Matt Tait, Matt Kruger, Ryan Cockburn, Hayden Sinclair, Harry Jones, Dion Biggs, Scott Punselie.
Umpires: Ruben Groot, Craig Sheppard
