Batting has been the North Otago cricket team's downfall over the last few seasons, but this year it could well be their strongest component.
The North Otago Hawke Cup squad was announced on Friday and the team appears to be stacked for top order batting talent.
One of the batting additions to the side is Englishman Simon Butler, who is coaching in North Otago this summer. The right-handed top order batsman has played for Cardiff University and the Marylebone Cricket Club and has been in superb early-season form.Former Otago Volt Duncan Drew is available for the team again this season, along with other top order stars in Marcel McKenzie, Jarrod Waldron, Scott Simpson and Robbie Smith.
There will be plenty of local Borton Cup faces in the team as well, with Nick Webster, James Cutt, Brad Kernahan, Paul Odell, James Ferris and Glenn Paterson also in the mix.
Co-selector Peter Cartwright was delighted with the pool of talent available.
We have the makings of a good squad. North Otago's bowling stocks look as strong as ever, with current Otago Volts member Craig Smith, David Sewell, John Blakely and Chris Ware competing for the new ball berths.The new team of selectors have also rewarded young high school players who have impressed early on in club cricket.
Jordan Horrell, who has been in sublime touch for Waitaki Boys High School, and his college team mate Stu Dickinson have both earned spots in the 18 man squad.
A new development by North Otago cricket this season is an A team made of emerging high school players and Borton Cup talent on the cusp of Hawke Cup selection. Cartwright said he hoped the team would play at the same time as the Hawke Cup team, which would allow fringe players to push for Hawke Cup spots. At the same time, players not selected in the Hawke Cup playing 11 could help bolster the A team. North Otago play a warm-up match against South Canterbury in Timaru on November 16, before their Hawke Cup campaign officially gets under way against Southland in Invercargill on December 6.North Otago cricket squad
Robbie Smith, Marcel McKenzie, Nick Webster, Jarrod Waldron, James Cutt, Simon Butler, Duncan Drew, Scott Simpson, Glenn Paterson, Jordan Horrell, Brad Kernahan, Paul Odell, James Ferris, Stu Dickinson, John Blakely, David Sewell, Chris Ware.
North Otago A Team
Ben Cant, Brent O'Connor, Glynn Cameron, Dan Conlan, Sean Conlan, Anthony Sewell, Alex Baddock, Robbie Hill, Mark Creighton, Mitch McRae, Paul Johnston, Josh Gutsell
Team Pages:
North Otago 2008-2009 |