New Otago coach Vaughn Johnson is confident his side has enough batting depth despite naming just four specialist batsmen for the opening Plunket Shield game against Canterbury starting in Rangiora today.
The Volts' top six still looks strong with three former Black Caps - Craig Cumming, Aaron Redmond and Neil Broom - in the line-up.
Promising opener Michael Bracewell will bat at first drop with all-rounders Sam Wells and Nathan McCullum likely batting at No 5 and No 6, although wicketkeeper-batsman Derek de Boorder is due a promotion in the order after a fine summer last season.
There is no room in the 12 for the likes of Darren Broom or Shaun Haig, both of whom were regulars last season and have done reasonably well for the province.
Haig has scored four first-class hundreds in 34 games for Otago and averages 30.30.
Broom scored a century on debut and in 12 games for Otago has scored 504 runs at 29.64.
However, Johnson said he was comfortable with the mix of the side, particularly with Wells in the team. Wells averages a touch more than 38 with the bat and is a useful seamer with 31 wickets at 31.41.
"Sam Wells is at the stage in his career where he is looked at as a specialist batsman, so I think we actually have five specialist batsmen," Johnson said.
"Those other guys - six, seven and eight - can all bat, so I'm comfortable with the balance.
"There have been a couple of guys who have shown some good form in the lead up, the likes of James Neesham. And young Broomy [Darren] got runs last weekend in the Town-Country game. Those guys are possibly a little unlucky.
"Darren is putting pressure on the whole time . . . so that is healthy competition."
While the batting is arguably a little thin, the same cannot be said of the bowling. England fast bowler Steven Finn and last year's leading wicket-taker, Neil Wagner, will likely take the new ball, with the likes of former Black Cap Ian Butler and experienced campaigner James McMillan also competing to make the starting XI.
It is a formidable attack backed up with some solid spin options in McCullum and Nick Beard. Beard may end up carrying the drinks if Johnson decides to play his quartet of fast bowlers. While the left-armer is arguably the more attacking bowler, McCullum's superior ability with the bat will ensure he gets the nod if Otago decides to play one spinner.
Canterbury will be without bowlers Richard Sherlock and Matt Henry due to injury. Sherlock has recently had some problems with his ankle and will be seeing a specialist this week, while Henry is recovering from a stress reaction and his workload is being monitored.
Nineteen-year-old batsman Henry Nicholls will make his first-class debut today. Last year he was operating the scoreboard for Canterbury. But with Dean Brownlie and Reece Young in Zimbabwe with the Black Caps, and Michael Papps playing for Wellington, there is a gap in the middle order for the promising teenager.
Plunket Shield
Otago v Canterbury
Otago: Craig Cumming, Aaron Redmond (captain), Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Sam Wells, Nathan McCullum, Derek de Boorder, Neil Wagner, Nick Beard, Steve Finn, James McMillan, Ian Butler.
Canterbury: Peter Fulton (captain), Tom Latham, George Worker, Rob Nicol, Shanan Stewart, Henry Nicholls, Andrew Ellis, Todd Astle, Ryan McCone, Willie Lonsdale, Struan George, Logan Van Beek.
