By Alex Powell at the Basin Reserve
As the Black Caps ponder changes to their 14-man squad for next week’s final test against the West Indies, captain Tom Latham is keeping his cards close to his chest over a return for seamer Kyle Jamieson.
Jamieson, 30, hasn’t played a test since February 2024 after suffering a stress fracture in his back that sidelined him for a year as he underwent surgery and a lengthy recovery.
While he has returned to the Black Caps in the shorter formats this summer, coach Rob Walter has outlined that no risks will be taken with Jamieson’s fitness.
However, with the Black Caps 1-0 up in their three-test series against the West Indies, Jamieson’s services are required more than ever.
With Will O’Rourke ruled out by a similar stress fracture before a ball was even bowled, Kiwi quicks have dropped like flies.
Nathan Smith suffered a side strain after day two of the first test against the West Indies in Christchurch, while Matt Henry picked up a calf injury on day four, as the Black Caps were forced to complete the series opener with two frontline seamers.
To make matters worse, replacement Blair Tickner dislocated his shoulder on the first day of the second test in Wellington, meaning the Black Caps will again have to call in reinforcements for the finale in Tauranga.
While Northern Districts’ uncapped seamer Kristian Clarke is already with the squad, and theoretically the next cab off the rank, being able to call on a player of Jamieson’s quality would be hard to turn down.
In 19 tests, he’s taken 80 wickets at an average of 19.73. Among active players, only Australia’s Scott Boland – 69 wickets at 18.17 – boasts a better average.
However, with Jamieson going through a managed return-to-play programme, he would return to the Black Caps with one red-ball match under his belt. That came last week, when he took five wickets in 29.3 overs across both innings for Canterbury against Central Districts.
Speaking after the Black Caps’ win inside three days at the Basin Reserve, Latham said no decisions have been officially made and what’s best for Jamieson will come first.
“We’ve got a little bit of time to work out who that may be,” he said. “From KJ’s point of view, the strides he’s been making over the last few weeks, from the one-day game to playing a first-class game last week, is a step in the right direction.
“It’s important we manage him as best we can, and give him the best opportunity moving forward, in terms of when it’s right to come into a test match.
“All those conversations will happen over the next period of time. We’ll wait and see what we come up with.”
If it’s any indication, though, Jamieson has not been named to take the field for Canterbury against Auckland in Christchurch, starting on Saturday.
Latham said that’s not a sign of a potential return, but Black Caps bowling coach Jacob Oram professed during the first test he would also want Jamieson back as soon as possible, if he’s declared ready to play.
Otherwise, the Black Caps could go down a different route to reinforce their bowling stocks for Mount Maunganui.
Because of Tauranga’s traditionally sunny climate, the Bay Oval wicket has been known to favour spin.
At present, the Black Caps have two spin options in their ranks – Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell. Mitchell Santner had also been named in the initial squad but has since been withdrawn with a groin injury.
Should selectors lean that way, outside help could be called on with Ajaz Patel having just taken his 400th first-class wicket.
“We’ll have to wait and see what conditions are like when we get there,” Latham said. “Traditionally, when we have played there in the past, spin does play a factor.
“That’s another thing we can talk about, in terms of how we want to operate. So [these are] all good questions to work through over the next couple of days.”
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.