Craig (24) made his first-class debut for Otago against Central Districts in Napier a year ago today.
The left-handed batsman scored 56 runs at an average of 18.66 in his three games for Otago last season, while his left-arm offspin claimed six wickets at an average of 38.50.
He replaces former Black Cap Ian Butler, who has been sidelined with a side strain, for the Plunket Shield game starting today.
The Queenstown Events Centre is a happy hunting ground for left-armer Neil Wagner, who took a world-record five wickets in one over against Wellington last season. He took 51 wickets in the season.
"Neil is the spearhead of our bowling attack," coach Vaughn Johnson said. "I'd be happy if he could get another five-wicket bag up here.
"He's working hard on areas of his game that he can improve and is continuing to do well for Otago.
"It is no good Neil creating pressure at one end and then we release it from the other end. We must bowl for each other and create pressure from both ends."
A feature of Otago's batting this summer has been the lack of centuries. Even Craig Cumming, who has scored a record 20 first-class centuries for Otago, has only one score over 50.
"We need someone to score a century," Johnson said. "But we need other players to form a partnership around him." New captain Derek de Boorder and Sam Wells, who was added to the Black Caps squad for the test against Zimbabwe, have been Otago's most consistent batsmen. Wells has scored 257 runs at an average of 32.12, with three scores over 50.
Northern Districts heads the points table after five of the 10 games in the Plunket Shield competition with 64 points, followed by Auckland (50), Wellington (45), Central Districts (34), Otago (29) and Canterbury (27).
At the start of the season, it was Johnson's goal to win all three competitions - twenty/20, 50-over and the Plunket Shield. Otago has finished third in the first two.
"We have now cut it down to short-term goals," he said.
The coach indicated Otago would take risks in a bid to win games.
"We need to get a couple of outright wins in the next three games and then we can reassess our chances," Johnson said.
It was still raining when the Otago team arrived in Queenstown yesterday.
"The rain has spoilt our season," Johnson said. "We have lost over 10 days of cricket. It's been a bit frustrating, but you can't control the weather."
Head to head
Otago v Central Districts
Played: 82
Otago wins: 24
Central Districts wins: 26
Draws: 32
Highest total: 624 Otago in Napier, 2006-07
Lowest total: 73 Otago in Dunedin, 1986-87
Highest innings: 264 Bert Sutcliffe (Otago) in Dunedin, 1959-60
Best bowling (innings): 8-31 David Sewell (Otago) in Invercargill, 1996-97
Otago: Craig Cumming, Aaron Redmond, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Sam Wells, Derek de Boorder (captain), Jimmy Neesham, Neil Wagner, Warren McSkimming, Nick Beard, Darren Broom, Mark Craig.
Central Districts: Jamie How (captain), Roald Badenhorst, Carl Cachopa, Kyle Jarvis, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Dean Robinson, Mathew Sinclair, Steven Smidt, Ben Smith, Daniel Wightman, Kruger van Wyk, William Young.
