Volts manage to find 11 for first one dayer - just

Former NZ U-19 player Dale Phillips is in line for his List A debut. Photo: Getty Images
Former NZ U-19 player Dale Phillips is in line for his List A debut. Photo: Getty Images
The selection meeting must have been awfully short.

Essentially Otago had 12 available players and they have all been named for the season-opening one-day match against Northern Districts in Hamilton on Sunday.

The Volts are without three top-order batsmen. Neil Broom is struggling with a forearm issue and is also taking some personal leave.

His wife Melissa has recently given birth to the couple's fourth child. Freddie joins brothers Connor, Luie and Zac in what must be a busy household.

Opener Hamish Rutherford has New Zealand A duties. He could be in line for a test appearance this summer if Kane Williamson needs to skip a game or two due to his hip complaint.

And first-class specialist Camden Hawkins has been ruled out with a broken finger. He played club cricket last weekend, but Otago assistant coach Anton Roux felt it was too early for the 24-year-old to return to the top level.

"He is on restricted fielding practice and it is a case of waiting until he is 100%, " Roux said.

"In white ball cricket the ball gets smoked a little bit harder at you than in red ball cricket."

Spinner Mark Craig has a knee injury and was not considered either.

The Volts will field a new-look top order of Dale Phillips, Nick Kelly, Mitchell Renwick and Dean Foxcroft.

Phillips is on list A debut, while Kelly and Foxcroft will be making their one-day debut for Otago. Renwick has only played 11 one-dayers, so there is not a lot of experience in the top four.

Kelly is the most seasoned of the foursome. In 27 games, the former Northern Districts left-hander has scored 849 runs at an average of 35.37, including two centuries.

Back-up keeper Max Chu also joins the side.

He will carry the drinks, but it is a good opportunity for the 19-year-old to continue his development.

"Obviously we've got three new guys with us who weren't with us from last year's campaign. But they bring some experience to us from the other teams they were involved with.

"Dale does not have that experience but he brings that confidence and brashness. And of course he has very good options in one-day cricket and he is an awesome fielder.

"He will add a lot of energy to our fielding group," Roux said.

Otago v Northern Districts 

Hamilton, Sunday, 2pm

Otago: Nick Kelly, Dale Phillips, Mitch Renwick, Dean Foxcroft, Anaru Kitchen, Nathan Smith, Josh Finnie, Michael Rippon, Jacob Duffy, Michael Rae, Matt Bacon, Max Chu.
 

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