Adrian Seconi

Otago ended a 20-year drought when it won the State Shield trophy. But earlier in the summer the Volts were dogged by inconsistency and looked anything but a champion side. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi reports.

Otago might be the one-day champion but there will not be any complacency going into its four-day match with Northern Districts in Invercargill today, coach Mike Hesson says.

Ross Dykes took time out from behind his desk at the Otago cricket headquarters to welcome back the Volts at Dunedin Airport yesterday.

Twenty years ago, when Otago won the one-day competition, captain Warren Lees described it as a victory for the region.

Twenty years after Otago opener Stu McCullum made a stodgy four runs from 31 balls as his team won the national one-day title, his son Brendon was pounding the Auckland attack into submission and steering the Volts to their second limited-overs banner.

It was an ugly five-wicket bag but probably enough for Stephen Harmison to get the nod for the first test.

England fast bowler Stephen Harmison has always been a little erratic but if he does not find his rhythm in the next couple of days he might find himself carrying the drinks in Hamilton next week.

England is in a ‘‘right two and six''.

The irony is not lost on former Otago wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins that perhaps he played his best innings for his old team when he smashed 130 to help Auckland beat Central Districts last week.

The national selectors must have been burying their heads in their hands when news filtered through that four of New Zealand's top six were skittled for a grand total of seven runs among them.

The Sri Lankans were painfully polite, the Bangladeshis sweet, but the English, well, who knows.

Financial nous again beat grassroots experience as Wanaka businessman and former lawyer Ross Laidlaw was elected to the board of the Otago Rugby Football Union last night.

The writing appears to be on the wall for incumbent test opener Craig Cumming with his position in the national squad coming under pressure from the in-form Jamie How.

University-Grange bowler Will Somerville has something to tell the grandchildren after taking three wickets against the touring English side during a two-day warm-up match at the University Oval yesterday.