Jurgensen: Black Caps bowlers relentless

Bowling coach Shane Jurgensen described his Black Caps charges as ‘‘relentless’’ as they kept their side in contention to become world test champions.

Led by Kyle Jamieson, New Zealand picked up seven wickets for 71 runs on day three in Southampton, ending the day trailing on the first innings by just 116 with eight wickets up their sleeve.

Although day four threatens to severely hamper play with rain forecast throughout, Jurgensen was optimistic that with a reserve day available, New Zealand are still well-placed to pursue victory in the World Test Championship final.

Jamieson took 5-31 off 22 overs – including the key early wicket of Indian captain Virat Kohli – to see the Black Caps eke out an advantage as they constantly made inroads into the opposing batting lineup after they resumed at 146-3.

‘‘What was great about our bowling was the way that we adapted throughout the innings,’’ Jurgensen said.

‘‘I thought day one we were good, and improved as the day went on. Today I thought we were really relentless. I think we didn’t give them any easy starts and I thought every bowler [who] came on either took wickets or created pressure for their mate up the other end.’’

Jurgensen said the pace attack aimed to bring the batter a little more forward as their major adjustment from the previous day and did so with great effect.

Jamieson took his fifth fivewicket bag in an innings in eight tests since debuting last February and Jurgensen said despite 44 wickets at 14.13, things don’t come as easy as they seem for the 26-year-old.

‘‘He’s always looking to learn, which is a really great assest.

‘‘I was worried when he started to bowl his inswinger that it may not be the best for his outswinger but he works incredibly hard on his seam release and seam position.

‘‘It hasn’t been easy for him coming over to England – it’s a different ball and he’s had to work hard on how to hold that ball and what he feels comfortable.

‘‘He doesn’t really give the batter any opportunity to settle.’’

‘‘He works really hard on the mental side of the game, as well as the physical side.

‘‘If you’re working on the mental side of the game, you’ve probably got the greatest area of growth. He’s obviously got the skills but you’ve got to be able to handle the pressure.’’

‘‘He works really hard with the rest of the bowling group and that’s what’s been so fantastic as a coach of this bowling unit, the way they work with each other. He bounces ideas off the other guys and they bounce ideas off him.’’

Jurgensen was hopeful New Zealand’s two most experienced batsmen, Kane Williamson (not out 12) and Ross Taylor (0 no), could put on a big partnership to get the Black Caps as far ahead of India as possible.

‘‘And then by having the runs in the bank, fingers crossed, we can put pressure on them and anything can happen.

‘‘If the ball’s still doing a bit, we can put ourselves in a strong position.’’