Volts head west, thinking of north
THE Otago Volts have headed inland with the aim of improving in the north.
The squad of 18 players, along with coaching staff, have spent the past couple of days in Alexandra, staying at the Dunstan High School hostel, and will end the stint in Central Otago tomorrow.
The squad will not be playing any set games in the town but is simply training and working hard at Molyneux Park to get ready for the Plunket Shield.
Otago coach Rob Walter said the first game of the Plunket Shield was less than two weeks away against Auckland at Eden Park. The game was scheduled to start on October 20.
That was followed by games at Mount Maunganui and Wellington.
Walter said it was important the Otago side was properly prepared when it goes to the North Island to play the three Plunket Shield games.
The games would be played on wickets which were different from those found in the south.
‘‘They are quicker and have more bounce. Being the start of the season they are left quite green and they do offer something different at that time of year,’’ Walter said.
‘‘The guys have worked incredibly hard since they came out of lockdown and we have been trying a few different things to be ready. Last year we won our last two games and ended up third with two games left against the two sides above us.
‘‘We know we can win at home but it is now about being more competitive up north.’’
The side had been practising on artificial turf to get used to bouncier conditions and had also spent some time on harder wickets at Lincoln.
The four day competition will consist of eight matches, the same as last year, Walter said.
Four rounds would be played before Christmas, with the other game for Otago set to be played in Alexandra. The competition will then go on hold while the oneday competition and the twenty20 competition gets played. The final four rounds will then be played in late FebruaryMarch, with Otago set to play three of its four final games at home.
The goal was to be more competitive and look to get into top spot for this season, Walter said. Wellington won the Plunket Shield title last year.
Opening batsman and last year’s cocaptain Hamish Rutherford was still in isolation in Rotorua, but was set to get out tomorrow. He had been playing
T20 cricket in England. Walter confirmed he would be available to play in the first game.
Rutherford had played some fine knocks last year and will be itching to get back into action.
Many Otago cricketers were set to head to the United Kingdom over winter, but those plans fell through because of Covid19. They were now keen to get out and play.
Younger players Beckham WheelerGreenall, Llew Johnson and Ryan Whelan were training with the squad in Alexandra this week.
Walter said it was good to expose the up and coming players to the next level and what is expected at first class cricket.