Volts coach backing Neesham to recharge

The man who dropped struggling all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has no doubt the 27-year-old will return to his best.

With the blessing of New Zealand Cricket, Neesham has taken time out from the sport since Otago Volts coach Rob Walter left him out of his side for their home Super Smash game against Auckland on December 27.

Just when he returns to domestic cricket, where he was sent by the Black Caps to ‘‘dominate’’ at the start of the season, is still up in the air, but Walter is confident he will feature in the Ford Trophy.

Otago has one T20 game – against Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval on Sunday – remaining, before they resume the 50-overs format against Canterbury in Dunedin on January 27.

Whether Neesham plays against the defending champions, or further down the line before the competition wraps up on February 24, Walter has faith in the Black Caps’ former No 1 all-rounder.

‘‘Absolutely. There is no reason why he shouldn’t,’’ Walter said when asked if he believes Neesham will get back to his best.

Neesham scored just 18 runs in three innings, and took five wickets at 24.80 with an economy rate of 11.23 an over, before Walter had seen enough three games into a disastrous Super Smash season for the Dunedin-based team.

Black Caps selector Gavin Larsen on Thursday told Radio Sport Neesham has to get his ‘‘game back in shape, and probably more importantly his head’’.

Walter agreed time out from the game would help the all-rounder mentally refresh, but said the fundamental reason he wasn’t playing cricket was because he was out of form.

‘‘It’s like anyone, he needed to go and spend some time working on his game and get ready. If part of that was also refreshing mentally, then that’s great,’’ Walter said.

The Volts are monitoring Neesham’s progress and he would ‘‘absolutely’’ be picked to play when they deem him ready, Walter said.

Otago continued to struggle in Neesham’s absence, and sit bottom of the T20 ladder with one win from nine matches.

Three of their losses have been by 100-plus runs, leading to people asking: ‘‘What’s wrong with the Volts?’’

‘‘If it was one thing in particular, we would have fixed it,’’ Walter said. ‘‘One day we bat OK and then bowl poorly, and then it’s the other way around.

‘‘Essentially, you just lose the critical moments in the game.’’

But things aren’t so grim on the Ford Trophy front.

The Volts are third on a congested ladder with two wins from three matches, but will need to stop the rot from their T20 campaign carrying over.