After registering the victory in the first ODI match, New Zealand would be relieved to break their strike of defeat in the last five-match T20I series against India. Without playing their captain Kane Williamson, Black Caps will head to play the second ODI in the short ground of Auckland, Eden Park. Interestingly, there have been made some changes in New Zealand for the penultimate game of the ODI series. The tall and lanky pacer Kyle Jamieson will make the debut against India.
Kyle Jamieson to play maiden ODI:
Bowling coach Shane Jurgensen, who is temporarily in charge of the team with Gary Stead taking a week off, told reporters on Friday (7th February) that Scott Kuggeleijn would not be considered due to flu-like symptoms. Besides Scott, the spinner Ish Sodhi has been released from the team to play with New Zealand A. Thus, over six-foot-tall Kyle Jamieson might get the chance in the final XI for the second ODI.
“He’s obviously a huge man, at 6 foot eight he’s quite an imposing sight, so we are looking forward to seeing what he can do,” Jurgensen said.
“He’s got good skills with the new ball, he’s a good athlete and he can bat a bit as well, so has a lot of potentials.”
Talking about his credentials in shorter formats, he was the part of three one-day matches for New Zealand ‘A’ against India ‘A’. He had the figures of 0-60, 2-69 and 4-49 in that series which New Zealand A won. In List A career, the right-arm medium pacer has taken 35 wickets in 27 matches.
In 29 T20s, he has picked 46 wickets at an economy rate of 7.99 with the strike rate of 14.1. His figures also include one four-wicket haul and one five-wicket haul.
His height may create problems in front of Virat Kohli’s men who will be facing him for the first time. Meanwhile, the second ODI will be a do or die match for India in this series who will fight to level the series.