Otago Volts finished 5th in Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy last summer, as well as chillin' at the bottom of the Super Smash ladder in 6th. This sets up an intriguing summer ahead as Otago track down better results and while they seem unlikely to be a dominant domestic cricket force across all formats, Otago will be eager to keep building around a hearty local core.

Negative Neds will note that Otago has lost another talented cricketer to Wellington with Nick Kelly following Nathan Smith in moving up to Wellington. Otago picked up Glenn Phillips to join younger brother Dale and despite Phillips being less available than Kelly due to Blackcaps mahi, this is a nifty piece of recruitment to at least absorb some of Kelly's absence. Mitch Renwick also departs Otago as a top-order batter/wicket-keeper, with Andrew Hazeldine shifting down from Canterbury to bolster Otago's seam department.

Otago cricket has been simmering at a low heat for a couple of summers now, primarily thanks to Otago Sparks blending elite wahine cricketers with the best pocket of young cricketers in Aotearoa. Otago Sparks are the only women's team to compete with Wellington Blaze and this forms strong foundations for Otago cricket as a whole, especially as most of the Volts squad are from the region.

Hamish Rutherford and Jacob Duffy continue to hold things down as southern troopers. Both have earned wider Blackcaps promotions recently and along with Michael Rippon, these three are leading through their actions with steady development and growth. Rippon isn't a born and bred local, but he entered domestic cricket with Otago and has climbed up the Aotearoa cricket ladder with Otago.

Max Chu will continue to develop as the lead wicket-keeper and while he needs to churn out runs across the formats to elevate his standing as a wicket-keeper, Chu is among the best pure keepers in Aotearoa. Along with Chu, there is a trio of young locals to keep close tabs on with Jacob Cumming, Ben Lockrose and Llew Johnson all providing funky talent.

Cumming is 18-years-old and couldn't grab a 50+ knock in his first four Plunket Shield games, but he made plenty of starts to average 26.83. Johnson is 22-years-old and has shown unique flashes in T20 cricket but is yet to command consistent selection and has only tasted white-ball cricket. Johnson is all x-factor, playing awkward shots with freaky power and flying around the field in Glenn Phillips fashion. His development could be fun, if Johnson can adapt to the grind of domestic cricket.

Lockrose is also 22-years-old and primarily operates as a lefty spinner, who is likely to get game time batting in the middle-lower order. Lockrose has taken wickets in all three formats and he will ensure that Otago have a solid spin option behind Rippon as well as Phillips; Phillips will probably bowl a lot for Otago and when he's unavailable, Lockrose can pick up those overs.

There is a perception of Otago that they lack talent and struggle to keep talent. Chu, Cumming, Johnson and Lockrose are all intriguing cricketers who may not be the best Aotearoa youngsters but have the pedigree and opportunity to flex their development. These four are young lads who Otago fans should connect with, rally behind and enjoy their growth.

Otago have a solid crop of seamers in Duffy, Michael Rae, Matthew Bacon, Jake Gibson, Jarrod McKay, Travis Muller and Hazeldine. Bacon shifted down to Otago a while ago and Otago have recruited Gibson (Northern), McKay (Central), Muller (Wellington) and now Hazeldine to bolster their seam group. Otago's success will depend a lot on how effective their seam bowlers can be and after nuggets such as no Otago seamer averaging below 30 in Plunket Shield last season; Otago need seaming strike-power.

That conjures curiosity as to which Otago seamer wants to step up and be that weapon. Duffy might after his Blackcaps experiences, maybe it's Hazeldine who is eager to make an impact. There are many right-arm mediums in this bowling unit and whether it’s Hazeldine’s variety or a certain skillset, a point of difference is required here.

There is a strong African flavour to Otago's squad and the kiwi-African duo of Dale Phillips and Dean Foxcroft throw out extra wrinkles of intrigue. Phillips oozes talent and was one of Otago's best batters last summer, finding greater opportunities with his move down from Auckland. Dale now has Glenn and they will be fizzing to establish their turangawaewae in Otago, which should see Dale shine even brighter as a batter.

Foxcroft is essentially a new signing after being left in greater pandemic oblivion than any kiwi sports star or celebrity who kept complaining about their circumstance. Foxcroft left South Africa to join Central Districts a few years ago, then moved to Otago and Foxcroft was unable to return from South Africa during the pandemic. Foxcroft is a 24-year-old who averages 51.15 in List-A, 41.46 in T20 and 26.30 in First-Class which puts Foxcroft among the elite young cricketers in Aotearoa.

Foxcroft last played for Otago way back early in 2020. Getting Foxcroft back at the same time as Glenn's move south to join his younger brother Dale who is fresh off his best summer, feels like kiwi-African alignment. Regardless of how often Glenn plays, having Foxcroft and Dale Phillips together in the batting line up will be monumental for Otago.

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