Hopes for Volts post ‘massive transition’

FORMER Otago coach Mike Hesson has been keeping a close eye on the comings and goings at the Volts and is hopeful the team will recover from what will be a ‘‘massive transition’’.

The firstclass side will be missing six senior players this summer following the departures of Neil Wagner, Jimmy Neesham and Derek de Boorder.

Rob Nicol has retired and Neil Broom and Anaru Kitchen have shed the white clothing to concentrate on limitedovers formats.

The recruitment has not been terribly successful with the only gain being that of littleknown Central Districts top order bats man and parttime keeper Mitch Renwick.

He will take the spot vacated by veteran gloveman de Boorder.

Hesson, who had his last day in the job as Black Caps coach yesterday, led the Volts to a oneday and twenty20 title during his sixyear stint with the province from 2005 to 2011.

‘‘Every side goes through a transition and it is a lot of change,’’ Hesson said when asked for comment.

‘‘But if you look at the results during the last couple of years it has become apparent that changes needed to be made.

‘‘It is a massive transition. Some of those changes are outside of their control but I’ll continue to be a supporter of Otago cricket,’’ he said.

‘‘They have identified the need to make change and I guess that is the first thing.’’

Otago’s record during the past two years is perhaps the strongest advocate for change.

The team has finished last in five of the six tournaments and its form in the twenty20 competition last summer was, well, rancid.

The association commissioned an independent review into the season. The report outlined ways the culture could be improved and recommended the reestablishment of a selection panel headed by an independent convener of selectors.

It also suggested ‘‘due consideration is given to making changes to the playing personnel’’. That part appeared to happen through natural evolution.

While Otago has lost a core of senior players, some of those same players did not play particularly well or show much leadership.

Perhaps Hesson was alluding to that point when he drew a distinction between senior status and leadership.

‘‘There is a difference between being a senior player and a leader. You want leaders in your group who are going to lead.

‘‘They’ve obviously made the changes for a reason and hopefully they are going to develop some leaders who are going to drive the Volts back to where they should be.’’