For decades, two names dominated the Sparks more than any other — Suzie Bates and Katey Martin.
The duo carried the team for season after season.
For anyone who followed the team, the big question was what would happen when they retired.
We know the answer to that now.
They will be just fine. Others have emerged.
Martin retired following the home World Cup and the Sparks had to get through a summer without the chirpy keeper barking out instructions for the first time since 2002.
Polly Inglis has been anointed as the replacement and she had her moments behind the stumps in her first full season in the role.
She stacked up some missed opportunities and started slowly with the bat.
But she is a fine athlete and nabbed eight catches and six stumpings across both formats. And she stood out at the back end of the Super Smash.
Her 43 against Canterbury at Hagley Oval and 47 not out against the same opponent at the University Oval helped secure her side a home elimination final against, well, Canterbury.
The trilogy ended in Canterbury victory, but she was one of the few batters to enhance her reputation with 26 from 23 in a rain-affected, low-scoring game.
The Sparks have got used to doing without Bates in recent years. The 35-year-old has been hot property on the T20 circuit but always makes an impact when available.
But Olivia Gain and Bella James showed just how effective they can be at the top of the order.
Gain is a crisp striker of the ball and she has a strong off-side game — something that is often lacking in the women’s game.
Back-to-back golden ducks in the Super Smash trimmed her contribution, but she impressed in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield with 201 runs at an average of 40.20 and strike rate of 95.71.
James thrashed her maiden list A century in January and took that form into the Super Smash.
She had the highest strike rate (142.68) of any player in the competition who scored more than 100 runs.
Her aggressive approach got Otago ahead in the chase in two important games against Canterbury.
She also collected 12 wickets in the T20 format. Her ongoing non-selection needs an explanation.
Bates made an impact when she played, as did fellow White Fern Eden Carson.
Strike bowler Emma Black (12 at 19.33) had another strong T20 season, and part-timer Caitlin Blakely had surprising success in the List A campaign.
She was Otago’s leading wicket-taker in the format with 12 at 21.83 and scored 243 runs at 30.37 as well.
The Sparks’ bowling unit dished up too many extras at times, though. That is definitely an area the team will need to work on over the winter.
Otago Sparks
ODT awards
Best game: Chased a victory tally of 167 to beat Canterbury by four wickets at the University Oval and clinch a home venue for the T20 elimination final.
Worst game: The seven-wicket DLS loss to Canterbury in the T20 elimination final was a painfully meek batting performance just three days after a superb effort with the blade.
MVP: Kate Ebrahim scored runs and took wickets. Why isn’t she in the White Ferns?
Most improved: Bella James scored a maiden list A century and batted with real aggression at the top of the innings.
