Keeper banking on Otago
MITCH Renwick has trouble seeing himself as an allrounder.
But he is bent on making a successful transition from a toporder player who can fill in behind the stumps, to a bona fide wicketkeeperbatsman.
The 25yearold has made the move south from Palmerston North to play for Otago this summer.
He is chasing his dream to play as much cricket as he can at the top level and has filled the spot vacated by longserving Volts keeper Derek de Boorder.
Otago is very much in a transitional period. Black Caps leftarmer Neil Wagner and former international Jimmy Neesham have moved on.
Rob Nicol, who captain the side last season, has retired, while key batsmen Neil Broom and Anaru Kitchen are focusing on whiteball cricket and not available for the Plunket Shield.
That means the Otago firstclass team is down six firstchoice players. Those gaps will be filled by local players with the exception of Renwick.
He has played 13 firstclass games for Central Districts for a modest return. But he is hoping the move south will pay off with some more consistent game time.
He has also embraced the challenge of taking the gloves.
‘‘It is a new chapter for me and for the team as well,’’ Renwick said.
‘‘It has been a little bit of a challenge mentally to see myself as an allrounder.
‘‘I wasn’t a keeper growing up. It was something I picked up when I was 17 or 18 but it is something I thoroughly enjoy.
‘‘Until the last few years, I have not had that technical aspect to it. It has always been about going out to field and enjoying it.’’
Renwick spent the winter in the United Kingdom playing for Bickley Park in the Kent Premier League and focused more on his glove work.
He has also kept for Manawatu and at club level, so he is not new to a pair of inners.
Asked if developing his keeping could impact negatively on his batting, Renwick supplied a reassuring answer.
‘‘I’m comfortable with where my batting is at but it is not about splitting your training time, it is about doubling it. I’ve always worked hard so I’m absolutely fine with all that.’’
The righthander was born and raised in Palmerston North. He went to school at Palmerston North Boys’ High School ‘‘with a lot of the guys who are in the Stags at the moment’’.
Central Districts players Dane Cleaver, Bevan Small and George Worker all honed their skills at the school as well.
‘‘The nature of CD is there are a lot of guys in the New Zealand A team and on the fringe of the Black Caps . . . so I was always a little bit in and out which was tough to deal with.
‘‘And I was the only one based in Palmy as well. I guess it is just such a nice feeling to be with the guys down here every day.
‘‘Even if you are not playing, you are working hard to push each other. That was one of the big attractions for coming down.’’
Renwick’s immediate goals are to solidify a spot in the Plunket Shield team and to enjoy the ‘‘journey the Volts are on’’.
He will play for Kaikorai when not required for his adopted province and has a little extra motivation to stay sharp behind the stumps. He is flatting with Otago fast bowler Warren Barnes and the home front could get a little awkward if he starts dropping too many catches.