A South African left-arm pace bowler who wants to play for New Zealand has signed to play for Otago this season.
Neil Wagner (22) has played first-class cricket for Northern Transvaal and has also played for the South Africa academy team.
Wagner was the big surprise for Otago when New Zealand Cricket announced the provincial contracted players for the upcoming season.
Otago named a predictable 12, apart from Wagner, especially after it was revealed last week former New Zealand and Northern Districts quick Ian Butler was heading south.
Wagner has signed to the association for this season only, but told Otago coach Mike Hesson he wanted to play for New Zealand.
He would have to play for three seasons in this country to be eligible for national honours.
Captain Craig Cumming has committed himself to another season, while pace bowlers Mat Harvie and James McMillan have won contracts, despite injury problems last season. Hesson said it had taken some time to find a replacement for Bradley Scott, who had left Otago to live in Hamilton.
Scott has been awarded a contract with Northern Districts.
Hesson said he had contacts all over the world, and Wagner was someone who stood out, as his first-class statistics were exceptional.
Wagner has played 20 first-class matches, taking 89 wickets at an average of 18.30.
His batting average is 12.53, with a highest score of 43.
He received a two-match suspended sentence for dissent when playing for a South African academy side against Bangladesh last March.
Wagner made his first-class debut in January 2006, and bats and bowls left-handed.
He plays league cricket in Liverpoolin the northern summer.
Hesson said he had viewed footage of Wagner bowling and had been impressed.
Otago could still sign an overseas player, despite contracting Wagner, but no decision had been made, although it would only be for the one-day series and the twenty/20 competition.
Wagner was due to arrive in the South in September.
Hesson said the side's bowling attack would be well served with pace.
Otago had done well to keep all its players, Hesson said, especially after its success in the State Shield competition last season.
He said some of the Otago players had been targeted by other associations but had committed to stay in the South.
Cumming was set for another summer with the side, after initial doubts over his availability, while opener Leighton Morgan was looking for a big season.
Brendon McCullum and Aaron Redmond both had New Zealand contracts and were not included in the 12.
The contracts ran from October 1 to the middle of April.
Most of the players were playing in England but Hesson was training with some junior players starting last week.
The top-ranked player in each province earns a $36,500 retainer, while the 12th will pick up $19,500 in addition to match fees.
The players were ranked from one to 12 but Hesson said those rankings were confidential.
Otago's 12 Contracted players
Derek de Border, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Craig Cumming, Mathew Harvie, Nathan McCullum, James McMillan, Warren McSkimming, Leighton Morgan, Craig Smith, Greg Todd, Neil Wagner.
