CD part-time keeper signed

Otago had to get a little creative to fill the spot left vacant by veteran wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder.

The Volts have contracted Central Districts top-order batsman Mitch Renwick.

Only those who have kept a close eye on the Plunket Shield will be familiar with the name. There would be an even smaller number who knew the 25-year-old from Palmerston North was a closet keeper.

Even Volts coach Rob Walter was unaware the right-hander slipped on the gloves.

He knew Renwick was having trouble forcing his way into a madly talented Central Districts batting line-up.

But when he learned "late in the piece" Renwick took the gloves at Hawke Cup and club level, and was keen to develop that part of his game, he contacted him to see if he would be interested in moving south.

"He can’t see an opportunity at Central Districts because Dane Cleaver is [the first choice keeper]," Walter said.

"We really wanted to create an opportunity. Obviously we needed a player to replace Derek but we needed to get someone here who was strong on the batting front.

"Mitch fit that bill."

Otago did approach other keepers, including Northern Districts back-up Peter Bocock. But Walter also wanted to provide promising Carisbrook-Dunedin keeper Max Chu with opportunities, so it was important to contract someone capable of a commanding a spot as a specialist batsman.

"We’ve seen that with teams like Auckland where Ben Horne can keep wickets and Glenn Phillips and Craig Cachopa can still have a go.

"We didn’t want to throw him [Chu] in the deep end and he has to spend three years trying to catch up in his career."

With just 13 first-class games to his name, Renwick’s potential with the bat is largely undiscovered. He averages 20 but Walter said he hoped Renwick would blossom with consistent game time.

"He has had a handful of opportunities over three years so in the end what do the stats tell you? But I’ve spoken to people who know his batting quality.

"You do have to go by what people tell you and the feedback has been good."

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