First-class result for footsteps follower

Otago batsman Darren Broom probably should have developed into a fiery fast bowler or a crafty spinner.

With two cricket-loving older brothers pulling rank and batting first, it would have been the path of least resistance - and the only way to get a bat.

But then again, dismissing Peter (28) or Neil (26) during the backyard matches at the family home in the Christchurch suburb of St Albans would not have been that easy.

Neil has gone on to play for the Black Caps, and Peter was a useful club player before giving the game away in his early 20s.

"It was a bit like that," Darren said.

"The battles were pretty even but I suppose Neil came out on top.

"He did a lot of batting."

The 24-year-old followed in brother Neil's footsteps and transferred south from Canterbury to Otago this summer.

The move helped ignite Neil's career.

He was struggling to get opportunities for a then star-studded Canterbury team and was lured south five years ago by Otago coach Mike Hesson and has not looked back.

It has not been quite as easy for Darren.

He has left a Canterbury team which does not have as many big names as it has had for an Otago team which is stacked with talent.

"It has sort of worked out that way.

"When I came down here I thought there are a few Black Caps around Otago now, whereas they used to be in Canterbury," he noted.

Broom made an immediate impact for North East Valley on the club scene with a couple of centuries, and in eight one-day matches for Volts this season he has scored 149 runs at an average of 24.83, including a high score of 73 against Central Districts.

Now he is poised to make his first-class debut in Otago's must-win Plunket Shield match against Canterbury starting in Queenstown tomorrow.

"It has been an ambition of mine since I started playing cricket."

he said, adding it was a touch ironic his debut would be made against his home province.

"I think the move has been good for my career.

"I feel more involved in the set-up down here than I did in Canterbury.

"I've basically just focused on cricket for the last six months, which has been good for my development."

Ostensibly, Broom has replaced the injured Aaron Redmond in the squad but he also owes his opportunity to his brother's success.

Had Neil not made the Black Caps squad for the current one-day series against Australia, he might have had to wait a little longer.

One of the advantages of playing against his old side is that he knows most of the players well and has seen the Canterbury attack up close.

"I'll be going in pretty confident knowing what they will do and having a game plan already in place against them."

Broom plans to return to Otago next season but has not ruled out heading back to Canterbury.

"It is a year by year thing but, at this stage, I'm planning to come back down."

Injuries have forced Otago to rethink its team for the match.

Strike bowler Neil Wagner failed a fitness test yesterday and has been replaced in the twelve by experienced seamer Warren McSkimming.