Jamieson’s debut the stuff of dreams

Kyle Jamieson was eight when he casually announced to his family he wanted to be a Black Cap.

Seventeen years later he got there, after ditching a promising basketball career in year 11 at Auckland Grammar School to focus solely on cricket and chase his dream.

Yesterday at Wellington’s Basin Reserve, Jamieson didn’t just make a test debut, he owned the first day as he snared the great Virat Kohli and ended with 3-38 off 14 overs, India 122-5 at stumps. He didn’t get opener Mayank Agarwal out with the ball, but caught him on the boundary instead.

Father Mike Jamieson, who still opens the batting for Papatoetoe’s 2B side, flew to Wellington on match morning after his son was confirmed as New Zealand’s 279th test cricketer – and the tallest at 2.04m.

‘‘Really proud. He’s put a lot of hard work in and my wife and myself and the rest of the family spent a lot of time on the sidelines following him,’’ Mike Jamieson said.

‘‘To see him get to the pinnacle . . . it’s something he’s dreamed about. He made a bit of a statement when he was eight that he wanted to be a Black Cap. And he’s got there which is really nice, and to perform well, awesome.’’

Jamieson looked the part in his first two ODIs, both wins over India, and with his height and bounce looked a good pick for the Basin when Neil Wagner ruled himself out to be at the birth of his first child.

Told of his selection and presented with his first cap on Thursday night, Jamieson kept his composure – just.

‘‘I found out yesterday and for me test cricket has always been the pinnacle. There were a few emotions at the cap presentation and this morning with the anthems,’’ he said.

‘‘Also I was pretty lucky to get the

wind. Not sure how often I’ll get that, but no complaints.’’

He charged in for an eight-over spell with the northerly at his back between lunch and tea, having already snared Cheteshwar Pujara with a gem – his 15th ball in test cricket – then Kohli to a fingertip catch by Ross Taylor.

‘‘He’s such a key to their lineup. To get [Kohli] early was massive for us. To get a couple early was where the emotion came from, certainly pretty special.’’

Jamieson went wicketless at his first-class debut for Canterbury in October 2014, then snared his first first-class wicket (Wellington’s Stephen Murdoch) at the Basin in February 2015.

He was excited about returning to the bouncy Basin with its nice grass covering and the chance to utilise his height and unsettle the world’s No 1 side at 130kmh – not express but sharp enough.

‘‘It just comes from a steeper angle. I’m not as quick as some of the other guys around the world but my short ball is a weapon from the height that I can bowl it.’’

He posed for a photo with father Mike before taking the field but there wasn’t enough time for any fatherly words of wisdom. ‘‘He’s had such a massive influence on my career.

‘‘It’s special for those who’ve been with you from the start. I’m the one sitting here but it’s as much their journey as mine.’’

‘‘He made a bit of a statement when he was eight that he wanted to be a Black Cap.’’

Mike Jamieson father of Kyle