The Otago cricket team, nicknamed the Volts since the 1997–98 season,[1] are a New Zealand first-class cricket team which first played representative cricket in 1864.[2] The team represents the Otago, Southland and North Otago regions of New Zealand's South Island. Their main governing board is the Otago Cricket Association which is one of six major associations that make up New Zealand Cricket.[3]

Quick Facts Personnel, Captain ...
Otago Volts
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Otago Volts logo
Personnel
CaptainLuke Georgeson
CoachAshley Noffke
Team information
Founded1864
Home groundUniversity Oval
Capacity3,500 (can be increased to 6,000 by use of temporary seating)
History
First-class debutCanterbury
in 1864
at Dunedin
Plunket Shield wins13
The Ford Trophy wins2
Men's Super Smash wins2
Official websitewww.otagocricket.co.nz
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Cricket was first played in Otago in 1849, the year after the province was settled by Europeans, and the Otago Cricket Association was founded in 1876.[2][4] The Otago representative team played in the first match which is considered to have first-class status to have been played in New Zealand, a January 1864 fixture with Canterbury which was part of a four team tournament which also included Southland and an English team led by George Parr which was touring Australia.[2][3][5]

The modern Otago team plays most of its home games at the University Oval in Dunedin, but occasionally plays games at the Queenstown Events Centre, Queen's Park Ground in Invercargill and Molyneux Park in Alexandra. The team plays first-class, List A and Twenty20 matches against other New Zealand provincial sides, although in the past has also played against touring sides.

As of August 2024 the team's head-coach is Ashley Noffke[6] and the captain is all-rounder Luke Georgeson.

Honours

1924–25, 1932–33, 1947–48, 1950–51, 1952–53, 1957–58, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1987–88

1987–88, 2007–08

2008–09, 2012–13

First-class records

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Otago Volts batsmen at the Basin Reserve in December 2019
As of 28 October 2022[7]

Team totals

Individual batting

  • Highest score – 385, B Sutcliffe against Canterbury at Lanaster Park, Christchurch, 1952/53
  • Most runs in season – 1,027 GM Turner, 1975/76
  • Most runs in career – 6,589 CD Cumming, 2000/01–2011/12

Highest partnership for each wicket

Bowling

  • Best inning bowling – 9/50 AH Fisher v Queensland at Dunedin, 1896/97
  • Best match bowling figures – 15/94 FH Cooke v Canterbury at Christchurch, 1882/83
  • Most wickets in season – 54 SL Boock, 1978/79
  • Most wickets in career – 399 SL Boock, 1973/74–1990/91

Contracted players

Ahead of the 2024–25 season, 16 players were awarded contracts to play for Otago. In addition, Jacob Duffy and Glenn Phillips were both awarded New Zealand Cricket central contracts for the season. Other, non-contracted players may play for the side during the season.[8][9][10][11]

As of 16 August 2024
More information No., Name ...
No.NameNationalityBirth dateBatting styleBowling styleNotes
34Matt Bacon New Zealand (1993-04-13) 13 April 1993 (age 31)Right-handedRight-arm medium-fast
21Leo Carter New Zealand (1999-12-10) 10 December 1999 (age 24)Left-handedRight-arm spin
12Max Chu New Zealand (2000-03-21) 21 March 2000 (age 24)Left-handed
6Jacob Cumming New Zealand (2003-12-14) 14 December 2003 (age 20)Left-handedRight-arm medium
Zac Cumming New Zealand (2005-07-04) 4 July 2005 (age 19)Right-handedRight-arm leg-break
32Jacob Duffy New Zealand (1994-08-02) 2 August 1994 (age 30)Right-handedRight-arm fast-mediumNew Zealand central contract
11Dean Foxcroft New Zealand (1998-04-20) 20 April 1998 (age 26)Right-handedRight-arm off-break
26Luke Georgeson New Zealand (1999-04-14) 14 April 1999 (age 25)Left-handedRight-arm medium-fastCaptain. Holds dual Irish/New Zealand citizenship
7Jake Gibson New Zealand (1997-08-07) 7 August 1997 (age 27)Right-handedRight-arm medium
31Andrew Hazeldine England (1994-07-13) 13 July 1994 (age 30)Left-handedLeft-arm fastHolds dual British/New Zealand citizenship
36Llew Johnson New Zealand (2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 (age 24)Right-handedRight-arm leg-break
17Ben Lockrose England (2000-03-24) 24 March 2000 (age 24)Right-handedSlow left-arm orthodox
27Jarrod McKay New Zealand (2000-06-08) 8 June 2000 (age 24)Right-handedRight-arm medium-fast
10Travis Muller South Africa (1993-03-04) 4 March 1993 (age 31)Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium
86Thorn Parkes New Zealand (2000-08-10) 10 August 2000 (age 24)Left-handedRight-arm leg break
8Dale Phillips South Africa (1998-10-15) 15 October 1998 (age 26)Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium
Glenn Phillips New Zealand (1996-12-06) 6 December 1996 (age 27)Right-handedRight-arm off-breakNew Zealand central contract[12]
Jamal Todd New Zealand (2004-03-27) 27 March 2004 (age 20)Left-handedRight-arm off-break
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Grounds

University Oval is used in Dunedin, with occasional matches in Invercargill (Queen's Park) and at the Queenstown Events Centre. Many matches have been played at Molyneux Park in Alexandra in recent decades, particularly during the Christmas-New Year holiday season. The warm, dry summer climate of Central Otago can make for better cricketing conditions than the wetter coastal areas. Oamaru (Whitestone Centennial Park) has been used in the past but not recently.

Notable former players

References

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