The Otago Volts and Sparks are gearing up for a string of matches in the holiday haven of Central Otago - and the newest, uncapped quick bowler is going to feel right at home.
The southerners are heading to Alexandra to kick off their 2024/25 campaign with matchdays at Alexandra's gorgeous Molyneux Park on 27 December (a first matchday also for the Canterbury Magicians and Kings), 29 December (a second-round match for the Auckland Hearts and Aces), and New Year's Eve, 31 December (versus the Central Hinds and Stags who will start their campaign here, too).
Named in the Volts' squad for the first time ahead of tomorrow's first match is 17-year-old paceman Mason Clarke who gets his first call-up for the senior Volts squad in any format.
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Clarke is a tall New Zealand Under 19 rep from nearby Queenstown in the Central Otago heartland.
He isn't the only up-and-coming youngster to spring from this relatively remote neck of the woods, far better known as a ski resort and adventure tourism hotspot than as a cricketing epicentre.
Younger teenage batter Hugo Bogue (an Otago U19 rep when he was still just 15 last summer - promptly producing a century at nationals) has been making a name for himself from Queenstown as well, and could well be a Volt of the future.
Serendipity means the two have helped hone each other's respective crafts in the local nets.
But right now, it's Clarke who's got the opportunity, after having progressed through the Otago Under 17, Under 19 and Otago A men's sides in recent summers.
Otago Cricket has labelled the young fast bowler "a key product of the Otago Cricket pathway system" but that didn't stop the 17-year-old's jaw dropping when he got the selection news from new Otago Volts coach Ash Noffke himself.
“It was pretty crazy," says Clarke.
"We had just finished our internal games, and 'Noffers' came up to me and said I will have to change my holiday plans - to go to Alexandra."
Clarke isn't the only uncapped player in the Volts' first squad of the Dream11 Super Smash season.
Spinner Lahiru Vimukthi has also featured for Otago A this season, the tailender coming in as a potential second spinner in the bowling unit ahead of tomorrow's Super Smash clash in Alexandra.
Right-armer Clarke got three starts for New Zealand Under 19 at the last ICC U19 men's World Cup, in South Africa last summer, opening the bowling and taking 3/25 against Nepal and 4/62 against India.
Now the young man can't wait to suit up in the Volts' blue in the next step of his blossoming career.
“It’s an awesome feeling," he says.
"Awesome to be around the boys. As a kid, you look up to the Volts, they do a lot in and around the region.
"They are your role models, and to get to play with them is pretty special."
Smile big 😁 as the #SuperSmash begins tomorrow!
— FanCode (@FanCode) December 25, 2024
Celebrating 20 years of T20 cricket, these retro threads are straight up 🔥#SuperSmashonFanCode @SuperSmashNZ pic.twitter.com/P258NiEevZ
Tickets are on sale here for all three matches in Central Otago, and ‘Kids Go Free’ for the New Year's Eve matches against Central.
See the full Otago squad news on Otago Cricket social media, and check out the Canterbury Kings and Magicians squads here.
The Magicians have some big squad news of their own with experienced India rep, right-armer Shikha Pandey joining the squad as a second overseas pro for their campaign, following the announcement that Australian Maddie Penna would be back in red and black for the Mags this season.
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