When the young cricketer Kyle Jamieson came to the crease against India in New Zealand’s second ODI of a three-match series they were 197 for 8 after 41.3 overs. Ross Taylor was at the other end but needed some support to help New Zealand post a competitive total.
“If I’m honest, I wanted to get off the mark. I wanted to get a run and that was about as much as I was thinking. Just don’t get out, just try and get off the mark. At least you can say you got an international run.” Jamieson told ESPNcricinfo.
Jamieson somewhat did better than get off the mark, contributing an unbeaten 25 to a 76-run stand to take New Zealand to 273.
Though, Jamieson’s job wasn’t done. Playing in the team as a bowler, he was largely responsible for defending New Zealand’s score. Although India’s usual openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were out due to injury, Jamieson knew how dangerous youngster Prithvi Shaw was.
“We were lucky we played an A series the week before which sort of enabled me to see guys like Prithvi Shaw and play against them for a few times. He took us to the cleaners in a couple of those games so I was just like, alright, don’t want to give him too much, don’t want to start off my international career from a bowling point of view going for too many boundaries,” he said.
New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson plays a shot during day three of the first Test cricket match between New Zealand and India at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP) (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)
After dismissing Navdeep Saini late in the match to pick up his second wicket, Jamieson was awarded Man of the Match and hence, his 25 runs proved to be crucial in a 22-run win for the home side.
New Zealand swept the one-day series 3-0 then attention turned to the two World Test Championship matches. Having come off a dismal tour against Australia – losing 3-0 with defeats by 296 runs, 247 runs and 279 runs – during which Jamieson was called up as an injury replacement but did not play, they needed to bounce back quickly against India.
The No. 1-ranked Test side were still a major threat despite some injuries and appeared to be running away with the WTC six months into the competition. Given each match was worth 60 points in the standings, the series could’ve essentially sealed, signed and delivered India to the WTC final. For Jamieson, this was the next challenge. It’s one thing to perform well in two limited-overs matches; it’s another to bring that effort consistently over five days.
Jamieson sees himself developing as an allrounder, although he admits he’s more of a “net batter than a match batter” at this stage of his career
All four matches Jamieson played resulted in New Zealand victories and he earned two Man of the Match awards. For the 25-year old, the stature of his team-mates was just as memorable as his early success on the pitch.
“It’s pretty weird when you think about it, really. I remember that 2015 World Cup just how the whole nation got in behind that and it was such an awesome ride and I think everyone was so proud to be a Kiwi in that moment. To play against those guys at the domestic level occasionally and then just to be sitting in the dressing room with guys that have been playing for a fair chunk of the time I’ve been watching cricket, being involved in bowling meetings, it’s pretty special. It’s what you dream of as a kid and it’s a ‘pinch yourself’ moment.” he added.
It is still to be confirmed when New Zealand will resume international action, although November is shaping as a likely start to the home season, Jamieson’s future looks bright. “[It was] certainly a crazy three or four weeks, I don’t even know now if I can really believe how it’s kind of all unfolded.” the 6-ft-8-inch tall fast bowler said.
