Local player Rippon among 14 players contracted by Otago

OTAGO’S list of contracted players includes just one new name, despite four players moving on during the past month.

Central Districts toporder batsman Mitch Renwick has joined the Volts.

He is a parttime keeper and will move south to fill the vacancy left by the departure of veteran gloveman Derek de Boorder.

Legspinner Michael Rippon is new to the Otago contract list but not new to the team.

He has played for Otago as an overseas player since joining the squad partway through the 201617 season.

He has qualified to play as a local in the domestic competition and has been contracted alongside former international Mark Craig as one of two specialist spinners.

Fans may have expected a few more new players announced given the Volts have lost the services of de Boorder, Rob Nicol, Jimmy Neesham and Neil

Wagner. But the reality is there was not much wriggle room as both Neesham and Wagner were nationally contracted, so their departures did not free up a slot.

Neil Broom, who has retired from firstclass cricket but will continue to play limitedovers cricket for the Volts, missed out on a New Zealand gig as well so had to be contracted, taking away another spot.

Otago has contracted 14 players in the first round and has another two places to allocate.

Seamer Jack Hunter and allrounder Christi Viljoen were contracted last season and probably have first dibs on the final spots.

Hunter was impressive during

the oneday campaign, so it would be a shock if he missed out. Viljoen was hampered by injuries but has been a good performer for Otago in the past.

Elsewhere, former Black Cap Jesse Ryder was overlooked by

Central Districts.

The 33yearold’s cricket career in New Zealand looks over unless another association picks him up.

Ryder had a twoyear stint in Otago. He scored many runs for

the province but he courts controversy and did not look very fit last summer.

Former Otago spinner Will Somerville has been contracted by Auckland. The 33yearold made his firstclass debut in

March 2005, grabbing three for 26 and one for 59 for the Volts and showed a whole heap of promise.

But he was rated behind Nathan McCullum and played his last firstclass game for the province in 2008.

He played grade cricket in Sydney and had to wait six years for another opportunity to add to his firstclass record, this time in the Sheffield Shield for New South Wales.

But with Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe also at NSW, Somerville asked for a release from his contract to pursue opportunities in New Zealand.

His arrival at Auckland will help offset Tarun Nethula’s decision to limited himself to oneday and twenty20 cricket.

Veteran Northern Districts seamer Brent Arnel has joined Michael Papps and Nicol in retirement.

Arnel is pursuing a career in coaching and leaves behind a playing career during which he snaffled 394 firstclass wickets at an average of 26.89.

The 39yearold caught the eye of the national selectors and he played six tests for his country from 2010 to 2012.