Special first test not to be missed

Kyle Jamieson initially wasn’t sure whether he’d make his test debut in Wellington yesterday.

The fourth-choice seamer in the Black Caps’ test squad to play India, Jamieson’s chances of playing at the Basin Reserve looked slim at first, relying on the selection of an all-seam attack for the first test.

Then, when Neil Wagner was ruled out to stay home for the birth of his daughter, Jamieson’s dream quickly became a reality — and also forced a quick change of plans for his father.

Michael Jamieson, who had missed out on attending his son’s ODI debut in Auckland this month, was determined not to miss a test debut, and rapidly made arrangements.

“I found out [Thursday] afternoon about 1pm, I grabbed a ticket, arrived down here in the morning and got to the ground just in time to see warm-ups,” Michael Jamieson told D’Arcy Waldegrave on Radio Sport.

“I was pretty determined

I was going to be at this one, for the whole time.”

He was delighted with what he witnessed as well, with his son removing Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Hanuma Vihari to end the day with 3-38, putting India in trouble at 122-5.

Michael Jamieson, who played premier cricket for Papatoetoe and represented New Zealand at the Over-50 World Cup, said his son’s preparation and improved fitness have been two of the keys to his rapid rise during the past few months.

“He prepares really well, and once he gets into the middle of the park, he knows what he’s got to do.”

Even with Wagner set to return for the second test in Christchurch, it will be hard to leave Jamieson out of the burgeoning fast-bowling mix.

Father and son had the same line to sum up a memorable opening to a test debut.

“A pretty special day.’’