A specialist batsman during his formative years before shifting to fast bowling, New Zealand’s imposing pacer Kyle Jamieson wants to transform into an all-rounder going forward.
The 25-year-old, who made a dream debut against India in the first Test, played as a batsman in his younger days, and it wasn’t until he met the then New Zealand U-19 coach Dayle Hadlee that he was asked to seriously consider focusing on fast bowling as a primary skill.
“I was pretty much a batter all through high school and then made the New Zealand U-19s, and Dayle Hadlee got a hold of me and told me to run in, which kind of shifted me towards becoming more of a bowler,” Jamieson told ICC.
“I always liked batting, it was probably what I grew up admiring the most — whilst I did bowl, I did not think of that as my career option growing up. Now I’m a bowler who can bat, trying to get to the all-rounder stage, that’s where I ideally want to be,” the 6-ft-8-inch tall fast bowler said.
Jamieson impressed with his bounce and ability to extract movement in the first innings of the Wellington Test, where he picked up four wickets. He also scored 44 off just 45 balls in New Zealand’s reply.
‘tough to counter’
Indian batsmen will get a liberal dose of "chin music" in the second Test at the seamer-friendly Hagley Oval, senior New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner declared, harping on the visitors' struggles when faced with pace and bounce.
With India troubled by short balls bowled from round the wicket, the 33-year-old Wagner promised that they will employ the same strategy during the second match starting Saturday.
"It's obviously tough for them to come here and play where there is obviously a bit more bounce and pace," said Wagner.
"Obviously, playing in India where there is not that much bounce and pace around and so it is something new for them to adapt to," he added.
Wagner, just like his coach Gary Stead, believes that Indians will be better but he expects the home side to be relentless in its endeavour to compound the agony for the visitors.
"Hopefully, we can keep the squeeze on and bowl the way the boys bowled in Wellington and if we can keep piling the pressure on, we will make the job a lot easier for ourselves," he said.