Well-rounded Jamieson makes stunning start
No all-rounder has managed to do what Kyle Jamieson has done over his first three tests.
However, the towering Black Caps rookie has a bunch of plans to get better.
As revealed by cricket statistician Andrew Samson – after New Zealand’s first test win over the West Indies in Hamilton – Jamieson became the only test cricketer to have scored 100 or more runs at an average of 50-plus and taken 10 or more wickets at an average of less than 20 in their first three tests.
The 25-year-old, who made an unbeaten 51 from 64 balls in New Zealand’s first innings and then took match figures of 4-67 with the ball, has a test batting average of 72 and 13 wickets at 16.46.
Not that Jamieson is making a big fuss of his sensational start after making his debut versus India earlier this year.
‘‘While it’s panned out for me the last few games, I’m still very much aware that [Tim] Southee, [Trent] Boult, [Neil] Wagner – those are the three guys in there, and they’ve been three of the best for such a long period of time.
‘‘It’s just trying to play my role, wherever that may be. This game it was at eight and being the fourth prong of the attack, I guess, and in Wellington I might be bringing the drinks.’’
Jamieson said he’s worked hard since his first test series to improve in a host of areas, with fitness a major focus.
‘‘The winter was a good chance to sit back and reflect on the last few months [of the summer].
‘‘It was a big winter in terms of fitness and conditioning – trying to make gains there to get my body and fitness levels up to where I needed them to be to perform at an international level across 12 months – not just a couple of games here and there.
‘‘I wouldn’t say I was unfit or my strength numbers were down, but it was my first winter I’d worked with [Black Caps strength and conditioning coach] Chris Donaldson so three to five months of tough training and I certainly saw the results through the weeks and months.’’
Jamieson said that’s helped him to bowl quicker and maintain his pace in his second spells.
‘‘I wouldn’t say it [bowling faster] was necessarily top of the pile of the things I wanted to do, but it’s a by-product of the work we’ve done.
‘‘Certainly I want to bowl quicker – if I look at where my bowling was 12 months ago and my first taste of international cricket being the test series over in Australia and watching our boys and the Aussie boys go to
work and think ‘ OK, what do I need to do to be world-class?’.’’
‘‘That’s the standard I’m chasing. If I can use my height, if I can bowl at 140ks-plus, move the ball, seam it, then you start becoming a handful in all conditions. I don’t think I’m there yet but it’s trending in the right direction.’’
Jamieson said he used his Auckland Aces coach Heinrich Malan a lot to help him.
‘‘He’s a genius with this stuff. He’s got awealth of knowledge and also [Black Caps bowling coach] Shane Jurgensen as well.’’
Jamieson also wants to be better with the bat.
‘‘I’m still a long way off being comfortable with my game that I can produce consistently at seven
or eight. It’s started off OK but I know I’ve got a long journey and a lot of work to do to be in a place where I can consistently produce results for the team.’’
Meanwhile, the Windies have been forced to make at least two changes to their XI for the second test starting at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday.
Pace bowler Kemar Roach and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich are both returning home – Roach’s father died last week while Dowrich was unable to keep in the first test due to injury.
Dowrich is set to be replaced by Joshua Da Silva, who will make his test debut. The 22-year-old has been playing for the West Indies A side on tour here.
Richie Mccaw and Portia Woodman have scooped major prizes at a virtual edition of the 2020 World Rugby Awards which recognised the best XVS and sevens players of the decade (2010-19) as voted by fans.
Former All Blacks captain and open-side flanker Mccaw was voted men’s XVS player of the decade, heading off a cast of stars including fellow New Zealanders Dan Carter, Brodie Retallick, Kieran Read and Beauden Barrett.
Woodman was voted women’s sevens player of the decade in a field that included Black Ferns team-mates Kayla Mcalister, Michaela Blyde and Ruby Tui.
Mccaw played 68 of his 148 tests