The name “Otago” is an old southern Maori word whose North Island dialect equivalent is “Otakou”; Otago Volts are the champions of New Zealand’s twenty20 tournament. Otago is not a very big city it roughly has a population of 203,500.
It goes without saying that this is the biggest stage any cricket team from Otago has ever been. Otago cricket and many teams around the world need this spark to ignite the passion back into domestic cricket. The postives of having a chance to participate in CLT20 and then go on to win could mean growth of domestic crikcet around the country.
Team Composition:
Opening batsman Craig cumming has been the captain of the squad since 2002 and is right hand batsmen who can bowl a bit. He might be the mover in the batting order as he has played as a opener as well as a middle order batsemen.
The side features few other New Zealand internationals – Brendon McCullum, his brother Nathan, fast bowler Ian Butler, middle-order batsman Neil Broom and Test batsman Aaron Redmond.
Brendon Mccullum with his experience at KKR, and their poor run in IPL would have learned a great delas and would be better prepared and would be eager to prove a point. Everyone remembers the opening match of IPL season 1 and everyone wants an encore.
Dimitri Mascarenhas, the England allrounder, is their overseas player while Neil Wagner, who has played for Northerns in South Africa, has also been included.
With 7 players who have played International cricket the team looks very much a CLT20 Team to drive home the point no team in CLT20 is a push over. You got to win the match; no one is going to lose one.
The team is currently training in Dunedin and will go to Australia later in the month for some practice games ahead of the tournament.
Otago Squad for the Champions League:
Craig Cumming (captain), Neil Broom, Nick Beard, Derek de Boorder, Ian Butler, Mathew Harvie, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Brendon McCullum (wk), Nathan McCullum, James McMillan, Warren McSkimming, Aaron Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Greg Todd, Neil Wagner.
Craig Cumming:
Major teams: New Zealand, Canterbury, New Zealand A, Otago
Playing role: Opening batsman
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Neil Broom:
Major teams: New Zealand, Canterbury, Otago
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
Derek de Boorder:
Major teams: Auckland, New Zealand Under-19s, Otago
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Fielding position: Wicketkeeper
Brendon McCullum:
Major teams: New Zealand, Canterbury, Glamorgan, Kolkata Knight Riders, New South Wales, Otago
Playing role: Wicketkeeper batsman
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Fielding position: Wicketkeeper
Nick Beard:
Major teams: New Zealand Under-19s, Otago
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Slow left-arm orthodox
Ian Butler:
Major teams: New Zealand, Kent, Northern Districts
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast
Matt Harvie:
Major teams: Otago
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium-fast
Nathan McCullum:
Major teams: New Zealand, New Zealand A, Otago
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak
James McMillan:
Major teams: Otago
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast-medium
Warren McSkimming:
Major teams: New Zealand A, Otago
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
Dimitri Mascarenhas:
Major teams: England, England Lions, Hampshire, Otago, Rajasthan Royals
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast-medium
Aaron Redmond:
Major teams: New Zealand, Canterbury, New Zealand A, Otago
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Legbreak
Hamish Rutherford:
Major teams: New Zealand Under-19s, Otago
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Greg Todd:
Major teams: Central Districts, Otago
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
Neil Wagner:
Major teams: Northerns, Otago
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Left-arm medium-fast
Author: Mona Gupta, New Delhi
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