Another Volts departure possible

Jimmy Neesham
Jimmy Neesham
Former Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham is talking to other associations and may have played his last game for the Volts.

Otago Cricket Association chief executive Mike Coggan confirmed Neesham had told Otago Cricket he was going to talk to other associations.

Coggan said they had told Neesham that was his choice, and he had not spoken to Otago again.

With the first round of domestic contracts due to be announced in just over two weeks, Neesham may not have much time to get his playing future in order.

Neesham is coming off a disappointing domestic season and lost his Black Caps contract.

He failed to make an impact with bat or ball and at one stage was dropped by Otago in its poor twenty20 campaign.

He then withdrew from cricket for a couple of weeks to get things sorted away from the game.

The left-handed batsman came back to play in the later stages of the one-day competition for Otago and then played in the second half of the Plunket Shield, though his play never reached any heights.

After seven years with Otago, his time may have come to an end.He is originally from Auckland but a return to the City of Sails is believed to be unlikely.

Wellington beckons for Neesham, as the Firebirds look to get the all-rounder.

Neesham (27) has played 12 tests, 41 one-day internationals and 15 twenty20 internationals but has not played for the Black Caps for nearly a year, since the Champions Trophy.

He is a talented cricketer who has some undoubted gifts, but there is a queue to get into the national side and he has slipped behind Colin de Grandhomme and — when fit — Corey Anderson.

If Neesham does leave, he will just be the latest experienced player to depart Otago.

Wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder is moving to Wellington to pursue a career in banking and opening bowler Neil Wagner has moved to Northern Districts.

Experienced batsman Neil Broom announced earlier this week he was giving up the longer form of the game and limiting himself for Otago to the one-day game and 20/20 matches.

That is a solid core of experience lost by Otago.

Volts coach Rob Walter and high performance director Simon Forde were at a meeting in Auckland yesterday sorting through player contracts with other coaches and high performance directors from the five other associations.

The emphasis was on getting the best players across the country all playing and for associations to not stockpile players.

Initially, up to 13 players per side would be  announced in the middle of next month, and then the final players to complete the 16 contracted players by the end of that month.

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