Jimmy Neesham brings up a half-century for Otago against Central Districts at McLean Park, Napier, in March. Photo: Hawke's Bay Today

All-rounder Jimmy Neesham has opened up about his decision to walk away from Otago cricket and the disillusionment he felt when he was overlooked at national level.

The 27-year-old fell out of love with cricket last season. It started when he got the message from the top he needed to dominate at domestic level before he would be considered for higher honours again.

Instead of providing the gentle nudge he needed, he went into games with a chip on his shoulder and it did not bring out the best in his game.

''I think I was pretty bitter about getting dropped from the Black Caps unit and obviously not being picked in that [New Zealand] A team as well,'' Neesham said.

''I'd gone from being the country's premier all-rounder to not being in the top 25 players in the country. Being told to go back and dominate domestic cricket - I really took that to heart and went out quite angry.

''I didn't really play because I was enjoying the game; I was playing to prove people wrong. Obviously, in hindsight, that was not the way to go about it.

''But I think it is all in the past now. I've let it go and towards the second half of last season I was just going out and playing the game for enjoyment rather than to show people what I could do.''

The nadir came when Neesham was dropped from the Otago twenty20 team in late December.

He had a two-week break before the one-day tournament resumed and it proved to be a tonic. The left-hander rediscovered his touch with the bat post-Christmas and was happy with the second half of the season.

The right-armer was content with his bowling effort as well. While he did not get the wickets he would have liked, he was pleased he was able to bring down the runs per over conceded off his bowling.

''Even though I've lost my New Zealand Cricket contract and people will think I'm at a low ebb of my career, I think I've never felt more optimistic about how I'm going.

''I hope I will see more of that improvement in this season coming up and, hopefully, I'll get some more results.''

Staleness, logistics and wanting a new challenge were the main reason behind his decision to move on from Otago after seven seasons.

His intention was to return home to Auckland but those conversations did not go as well as he hoped. Wellington was able to offer Neesham the fresh start he desired.

''Once I decided Wellington was where I was going to be I made a call back to Rob Walter [Otago coach] and informed him that was the decision I had made.

''To his credit he was pretty amicable about it and wished me the best. I'm sure we will catch up in the season and it will all be in the past.''

Neesham was aware Neil Wagner and Derek de Boorder were considering change as well but said his decision was not influenced by their decisions.

From the outside, the Volts' poor run of form and departures of Neesham, Wagner and de Boorder paint a negative picture of the environment.

''Obviously with not getting the results on the field, little things can become big things in the team culture. But I know guys like Rob [Walter] and Anton [Roux, assistant coach] are top guys and they are steering the ship the best way they know how.

''I certainly never had any misgivings when I was down there. We just didn't get the result we probably should have.''