New Zealand's fast-rising star Kyle Jamieson has had a remarkable start to his career, especially in Test cricket and in the recent home series against Pakistan; he impressed one and all with his talent, finishing with 16 wickets in 2 Tests to help the hosts clinch the series 2-0 on Wednesday (January 6).
The 6 ft 8 inch tall quick is just in his first year of international cricket but has managed to impress all, bagging a total of 36 wickets in just 6 games so far – 27 in his last four Tests at an astonishing average of 12.25.
In the second Test, the 26-year-old finished with best-ever figures of 11/117 in Christchurch and helped New Zealand win the game by an innings and 176 runs against Pakistan. New Zealand also became the no.1 ranked Test team as a result of this 2-0 series win over Pakistan.
The pacer’s remarkable figures put him among the New Zealand legends like Richard Hadlee and Daniel Vettori – who have the only better Test-match figures for the country than Jamieson.
Well, Jamieson couldn’t have hoped for a more remarkable start to his international career, but the speedster isn’t flying high as he is still looking for more improvement and a long way as a cricketer.
Jamieson said: “I still think there's quite a bit [improvement]. I still feel like I'm a long way off the cricketer I want to be. I'm 12 months into my international career and it's a long process. Hopefully, I've got another nine-ten years in this group, and if that happens there could be a wee bit more to come.”
He further added, “There are always things you're trying to work on. It's nice to be able to move the ball both ways and in different conditions that won't necessarily always be helpful. In terms of different deliveries and different formats, you got white-ball cricket and different variations there. There's nothing specific but you're always trying to improve your game.
It's kind of weird when you say it! Those two guys are legends of New Zealand cricket and I've just played my sixth Test. I guess it’s nice to be in and around those names but I'm just happy to be part of this group and to help in some small way in us winning games. We set out the summer with the goal of winning four Tests and just happy to do that.”
He also believes that his recent success with the bat is the reward of the work he had done during the COVID-19 break, adding: “It's not often you have six months where you can dedicate yourself to the game and there is some strength and conditioning stuff which was really helpful.”
Jamieson signed off, “The in-swinger was kind of a product in the winter as well. That has come in handy a couple of times. I guess it's a general thing. When you get such a big block of time to be able to work on your batting, bowling, and strength and conditioning, it sort of comes out in ways like this.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
