South Canterbury team to play Otago A:
Nick Horsley (Temuka) c, Curtly Slatter (Temuka), Craig Hinton (Star), Mark Otley (TBHS), James Blackstock (Celtic), Nathan McNicol (Temuka), Adam Beck (Roncalli), Glen Drake (Waimate), Rory Lorimer (Temuka), Andy Scott (Celtic), James Laming (Celtic).
Adam Beck
On Debut
Mark Otley
On Debut
Rory Lorimer
On Debut
Curtley Slatter
On Debut
James Blackstock
On Debut
Meanwhile Timaru Boys’ High School quick bowler Mark Otley, 14, is refusing to be daunted by the challenge of making his South Canterbury debut on batsman-friendly Aorangi Oval tomorrow.
Otley was one of the big surprises in South Canterbury coach Robin Beeby and selector John Davies’ first team of the season to face an Otago A side in the annual Mark Parker Memorial 50-over match.
Otley said it was a huge thrill to make the team but he was keen to take it all in his stride.
“Aorangi always favours the batsmen but I’m just looking to bowling nice channels and get the ball nice and full and see what happens,” he said.
The coaching of Dayle Hadlee at the Canterbury Cricket Pace Bowling Academy had been inspiring.
“He’s been great to me and has become like a mentor,” he said. “He’s helped me with my action, mechanics and my run-up.”
Beeby and Otley met when he was used an example for bowling technique by Hadlee at a coaching clinic the South Canterbury coach attended.
Beeby said he had a lot of potential.
“He’s getting up there in terms of the quickest we have in South Canterbury but he’s not there yet.
“What he lacks in pace, he makes up for with accuracy.”
Otley is one of five players making their debut, with Roncalli College all-rounder Adam Beck, Temuka batsman Rory Lorimer, Englishman Curtly Slatter and Celtic pace bowler James Blackstock all earning the call-up.
There are also recalls for Celtic’s Andy Scott and Temuka quick Nathan McNicol.
Former captain Sam Carlaw is unavailable, as were the Temuka batting duo of Johnny Geddis and Richie Preston.
Pace bowler Ben Watson was also unavailable but Beeby expected all four men to play a major part in the season.
The team will be captained by former Northern Districts batsman Nick Horsley.
The match begins at 11am.