Four form Otago players rewarded with selection for NZ A

OTAGO will be without four of its inform players over the next two weeks.

Hamish Rutherford, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith and Michael Rae have been included in the New Zealand A squad for the firstclass series against India A.

Rutherford, Duffy and Rae will play both fourday matches

against the touring side, the first starting tomorrow in Christchurch. Smith has been included in the squad for the

secondfour day game.

Rutherford, who is coming off a brilliant 155 from just 104 balls in a oneday match for Otago against Central Districts, will captain the New Zealand A team.

Rutherford was not deemed good enough last week to play in the oneday games against India but is now in the firstclass series and captaining the team.

Central will also be missing two of its stars.

Dane Cleaver is included in the squad, as is batsman Will Young, who returned from injury on Sunday against the Volts in Dunedin.

Young and Rutherford are expected to open the batting.

The New Zealand A side will be without Todd Astle, who is stepping back from longform cricket.

Kyle Jamieson will also be absent, the Auckland pace bowler in line to be called up to the Black Caps oneday squad for the first time later this week.

Selector Gavin Larsen said it was a good opportunity to keep developing the next tier of redball cricketers.

‘‘It’s about striking a balance of giving meaningful cricket to our top players while also providing development opportunities to emerging players.

‘‘We’re delighted to welcome Will back to this level of cricket after making a successful return for the Central Stags in the Ford

Trophy yesterday where he scored.

‘‘We’re really keen to continue developing our toporder batting depth and looking forward to seeing how young players like Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman acquit themselves.”

Chapman, Ajaz Patel, Edward Nuttall, and Sean Solia will drop out of the team for the second game, also in Christchurch.