Know the name Kyle Jamieson? I didn’t either, but he has been named the rookie replacement for injured New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson.
At 2.03m tall, Jamieson has the physical attributes to exploit any bounce on Australian pitches.
The right-armer sends the ball down at great height and has taken 72 first-class wickets at 27.93. He has not played for the Black Caps but has impressed in domestic four-day cricket, T20s and for New Zealand A.
He sounds like a Bruce Reid type of bowler and could well be a bolter for the third Test, starting in Sydney on Friday.
If the tourists want to continue their short-pitched bowling to Steve Smith and others, Jamieson would be ahead of Matt Henry. The 24-year-old can swing the ball and earlier this year took a stunning 6-7 in T20 cricket.
Coach Gary Stead described the Aucklander’s action as “uncomplicated”.
Should Jamieson take the place of either Tim Southee or even Colin de Grandhomme? It would be a big risk but what do the Black Caps have to lose? It worked with Tom Blundell, so why not give Jamieson a go?
Former NSW spinner Will Somerville is set to take the place of Mitchell Santner, who has been shown up for his deficiencies on this tour. De Grandhomme has also been disappointing, another to be shown up in Australian conditions.
Jamieson can bat – he hit a century for New Zealand A against the English last year – so would anything be lost by selecting him?
The line-up would look weaker without Southee in there so de Grandhomme is under the biggest threat.
Tim Southee (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The only change talked about for Australia is the selection of Mitchell Swepson.
Shane Warne says the right arm spinner could be selected ahead of Nathan Lyon, his logic for giving another tweaker experience a plausible one. But it’s generally accepted you don’t change a winning team, and with Australia intent on regaining the No.1 world ranking, I don’t see Lyon being dropped.
Strange how when New Zealand are second and Australia further down the ranking system was called flawed, but now that Australia are close to number one all is legitimate!
New Zealand needs to become more familiar with Aussie conditions – play more Tests, feature in the Big Bash, any means necessary – if they are to be competitive.
The batsmen have been woeful, showing unfamiliarity with quick bowling. It would be for the benefit of Australian cricket if New Zealand was played against more regularly, as the Boxing Day crowds show there is tremendous interest and support for the Black Caps.
Imagine what interest would have been created if New Zealand had been more competitive.
When Australian rugby was woeful in the 1970s, the All Blacks gave them more opportunity to play Tests and the Wallabies went from probably the worst team in world rugby to being world beaters.
Why can’t Australian cricket do the same for the Black Caps? It would provide a great boost to both countries and a greater rivalry would ensue.
A big brother against little brother contest is more appealing than against a distant cousin!
Getting back to Kyle Jamieson, I hope he has impressed in training and will be given an opportunity to play in Sydney.
jameswm
Roar Guru
The 3rd option was drop a batsman and play 3 quicks and 2 spinners - Paine at 6, Patto 7 etc.
Micko
Roar Rookie
There’s no point complaining when you kiwis beg for a test match to be cancelled to schedule an ODI series! edit: plus the kiwis only bailed out the aussie rugby union in the 70’s because they were eager to play and beat them, not because of some kiwi altruism! Their big rivalry (South Africa: the Springboks) was gone due to the political action at the time: banning South Africa from international sport. Your precious lonely all blacks would’ve been left to post cricket scores against Samoa, Tonga, & Fiji! :laughing:
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
One of the TV commentators said that it was one of several options Warne proposed. Apparently another was to play both of them and drop one of the quicks. There was a third but I forget what it was. .. If all that is correct then it's a case of being the truth but not the whole truth, a kind of assassination by deliberate omission.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
I see, thanks. Found it (sad, no?!). Seems it wasn’t considered FC as it was a 2 day game with each team playing 14-15 players. Test standard England attack though.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
He got a century against England in a tour match at the start of 2018. Not sure if they considered it a first class fixture.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Think you might have a case of mistaken identity with Jamieson’s century - he only scored 4 vs England. And his first class batting average is only 17, so not really a number 7. Not sure that the SCG is one of the bouncy Australian tracks that height will make a difference on, but maybe worth a try. Somerville surely has to come in for Santner - has a FC bowling average of 27 while Santner’s is 46! Can’t believe he was ever picked as the specialist spinner. No doubt you are right about NZ needing more experience in Australian conditions, though you can only really do that these days with a couple of lead-in tour matches, or maybe the odd tour by New Zealand A. I’m actually a bit surprised Australia has leapfrogged NZ in the rankings. A couple of series wins at home hardly makes up for the loss to India and some other bad away losses in the last couple of years, whereas NZ had some good away results. All results in the last two year period are given full weighting I thought. Agree it would be good if we had more Tests against NZ in Melbourne or Sydney. It’s going to be hard with India and England touring, but certainly preferable to the likes of Pakistan or the current Windies. But havent NZ also wanted to have their Boxing Day/ New Year Tests at home too?
JGK
Roar Guru
It’s a big ask for a touring seam bowler to debut at the SCG. Several have done it over the years at the end of a summer and very few have gone on to significant careers.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
I know Jamieson’ s Dad. He still plays local club cricket. I have never met Kyle though. With his height he will be an effective option. I think for him to be effective at International level he needs to bowl 5-10 kms quicker. Definitely one for the future. I am a big fan of Matt Henry but realise his test stats aren’t as good as his ODI record. Sommerville must play in my opinion. It’s his old home ground and with up to 5 left handers in the Australian lineup it’s a no brainer.
Paul
Roar Guru
Never heard of this bloke Peter, but I guess the Black Caps need to decide whether he's worth the gamble, not only for the Sydney Test, but for the next few years. It makes no sense to bring him in for only one game, so if they see he has a future, it may be worth him having a run. If he did get a guernsey, why wouldn't he replace Boult, leaving an attack of Jamieson, Southee, Wagner, Summerville and de Grandhomme? I would be dropping the Big Man to bring in Jamieson, after all, he's bowled tidily enough without a lot of luck. I guess we'll find out in about 24 hours what the Black Caps will do.
Paul
Roar Guru
I seem to recall a certain leg spinner have a huge dummy spit when he was dropped to bring in Stewie MacGill, but that was because he was out of form. Now he's suggesting a bloke who's taken 17 wickets in 4 Tests, should be dropped to “give someone a go”, as you say. Probably a good thing Warne didn't say that to Lyon face to face. I reckon he might have copped a more than a spray.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Great logic Warnie. On the best spinning deck, you rest your best spinner to “give someone a go”. Lyon would be really happy to not get the chance to bowl on that deck, right? Swepson won’t play. We’ll go the 3 quicks again. And happy 2020 Roarers.