The Volts have slumped to five consecutive losses in the Plunket Shield tournament and finished last in both the twenty20 and one-day competitions.
With just five wins from 22 completed games across three formats, the pressure has really been piling up on the leadership and the senior players to turn the summer around.
Otago has four first-class games remaining to salvage something from the season — careers could even be at stake.
Two years ago, former coach Nathan King resigned after his position became untenable following an unfavourable season review.
The players, who effectively ousted their coach, asked for more support around the team. Coach Rob Walter and assistant Anton Roux have certainly put in place improved structures and spent much time working with the players.
But that work has not been rewarded with many positive results. The team finished last in all three formats last season but perhaps this summer has been more disappointing given the personnel available to Otago.
The Volts host Wellington at the University Oval today and Walter has kept faith with the side which turned a 101-run first-innings lead into a six-wicket defeat to Central Districts in Napier last week, although leg-spinner Michael Rippon has been added to the squad.
For wicketkeeper-batsman Derek de Boorder, the game will take on added importance. It will be his 100th first-class game and 96th for Otago.
The self-described drummer in the band could not be reached for comment but he has been a wonderful servant for the province.
He made his first-class debut against Central Districts in Napier in November 2007 and has gone on to forge an impressive domestic career.
He has 321 catches and 22 stumpings and has scored 4656 runs at a healthy average of 36.95, including four centuries.
Of his 334 dismissals, 333 of them have been for Otago which is a record for the Volts and it is also the most dismissals made by a wicketkeeper for one province.
Wellington’s Ervin McSweeney previously held the record with 328 dismissals.
De Boorder has played four games for New Zealand A but has not played international cricket despite others such as Gareth Hopkins, Reece Young and Kruger van Wyk all getting opportunities.
Otago premier batsman Neil Broom is closing in on 6000 runs for Otago.He is the province’s third-highest scorer with 5892 runs and has Bert Sutcliffe’s total of 6028 in sight.
Craig Cumming is at the top of the list with 6589 career runs for Otago.
Another interesting story line is whether the captain Rob Nicol will play. He volunteered to be 12th man in the previous game.
He has scored just 90 runs at an average of 10 this season and made the admirable decision to step aside for Shawn Hicks.
Black Caps left-armer Neil Wagner shook off some terrible limited-overs form to grab a five-wicket bag in the loss to Central. He shapes as a key player if the Volts are going to reverse their earlier result against Wellington when they were thumped by an innings and 43 runs at the Basin Reserve.
Wellington leads the tournament with five wins from six games. The visiting team boasts an in-form bowling line-up featuring leading wicket-taker Logan van Beek, who has picked up 30 wickets at a stunning average of 13.20 this season.
Fellow quick Hamish Bennett is not that far behind with 27 wickets at an even better average of 9.40.
Plunket Shield
Uni Oval, begins today, 10.30am
Otago: Hamish Rutherford, Brad Wilson, Rob Nicol (captain), Neil Broom, Shawn Hicks, Derek de Boorder, Anaru Kitchen, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Jacob Duffy, Michael Rae, Michael Rippon.
Wellington: Michael Bracewell (captain), Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell, Fraser Colson, Devon Conway, Iain McPeake, Stephen Murdoch, Ollie Newton, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Logan van Beek, Luke Woodcock, Peter Younghusband.
