NEW DELHI: New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson has admitted that the hosts’ inability to field a settled bowling attack has been a source of frustration during the ongoing white-ball series against India, with injuries disrupting their plans and affecting the team’s ability to build consistency.New Zealand lost the five-match T20I series 2-3 and are trailing 0-2 in the five-match ODI series, with the third match abandoned due to inclement weather. The hosts have been without senior pacers Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, while Blair Tickner also suffered an injury during the second ODI.Jamieson believes the repeated changes to the bowling combination have prevented the attack from developing the cohesion needed to challenge India consistently.“It’s a wee bit of frustration, right? You’re trying to always put a similar attack out and you sort of can build that camaraderie and build that cohesion. We haven’t had the reps (repetitions) that we’d like. But hopefully over the next couple of weeks we’ll sort of all come out here together and get a good run of cricket together,” Jamieson was quoted as saying by the host broadcasters before the toss in the third ODI.
Injuries disrupt New Zealand’s bowling plans
The absence of Henry and Ferguson has deprived New Zealand of two experienced fast-bowling options, while Tickner’s injury has further complicated their plans. The lack of continuity has been particularly challenging against an Indian batting line-up that has capitalised on the hosts’ bowling changes.Jamieson, however, has been among the more effective performers for New Zealand. He troubled India’s batters with seam movement and bounce in Wellington, claiming three wickets in the rain-affected contest.“Just trying to manage a little bit of the weather stuff. Trying to get it right on what conditions are going to look like and just trying to put them (opposition) under a little bit of pressure,” he said.
Jamieson enjoys conditions offering help to bowlers
The tall pacer also welcomed the conditions in the series, which have offered assistance to the bowlers, contrasting them with batting-friendly surfaces where restricting the opposition to a run rate below 10 is considered a good effort.“No, I love it. I’m so used to like these wickets that are, you know, if you go under tens, you’re having a good day. So it’s nice to have a little bit in your favour. You can kind of just try and land on a spot and hope you get a little bit of assistance. So, it’s nice to have a little bit more in our favour. And long may that continue,” he said.With a demanding run of Test cricket ahead, Jamieson also spoke about the adjustment required when switching from white-ball cricket to the longer format.“It takes a while but just trying to trust the work that you’ve done, trust the process around it and then just ultimately just sort of surrender into the game, into what may or may not happen,” he said.The pacer added that managing his physical condition had been a major focus during his time away from the game.“I kind of always felt like my game was in an okay space. It was just trying to get the physical and the body side of it sort of, a bit more under my control. I felt like if I could kind of put some of those steps in place, get a run of cricket under my belt, it was always going to be all right,” Jamieson said.“So thankfully I sort of feel like I’m coming out the other side of it now and obviously a big run of Test cricket coming up. So touch wood we survive that,” he added.
