North Otago's Neil Rushton has been drafted into the Otago Volts team for the next two State Championship matches.

The left-armer replaces Kerry Walmsley who is sidelined with a back strain, the injury suffered in the early stages of Central Districts' second innings in Alexandra on Wednesday.

Walmsley has been Otago's most productive bowler this summer - in both the Championship and one-day series. He joins an ever-growing list of injured fast and seam bowlers with Shayne O'Connor, Warren McSkimming, Evan Marshall and Bradley Scott also all unavailable for selection.

Rushton played three Shell Cup matches for Otago during the 1999/00 season, taking four wickets at an average of 30.75. His best effort was 2-36. If Rushton plays on Otago's northern excursion it will represent his first-class debut.

Otago plays Wellington and Auckland on its trip north, the players undoubtedly still reeling from their pitiful 425-run loss to Central Districts at Molyneux Park, the fourth largest defeat by a runs margin in New Zealand first-class cricket history.

No other changes have been made.

© CricInfo