Kyle Jamieson: The star of the WTC21 Final

Click here to vote for Kyle Jamieson as the ICC Men’s Player of Month for June.

BY THE NUMBERS
Two Tests
10 wickets at 17.40. One five-wicket haul. Best figures of 5/31.
30 runs at 15. High score of 21.

LEADING THE ATTACK AT LORD'S

Opening the bowling in the first Test with Tim Southee at the home of cricket, Jamieson gave the English top order no time to settle, dismissing opener Dom Sibley for a duck to hamper the hosts' reply to the Black Caps' 378. He returned to break the partnership of Joe Root and Rory Burns by removing the skipper for 42 as the pair looked ominous, before finding the edge of Mark Wood's bat to help clean up the tail.

Jamieson gave nothing away as England pivoted to plans of rescuing a draw. As England battened down the hatches, Jamieson finished with six maidens in his 15 overs across the second innings, conceding just 28 runs.

STARRING IN THE WTC21 FINAL

Not many can lay claim to a leading role in a major tournament victory so early in their international career like Jamieson, who has exhibited poise and a level of comfort that belies his eight Tests' experience.

Jamieson's match figures of 7/61 and his neat cameo with the bat in the World Test Championship Final will live long in the memory.

The tall timber led New Zealand's charge in India's first innings, striking the opening blow when he removed Rohit Sharma for 34, ending a 62-run opening stand. On day three, with India on the cusp of a dangerous first-innings total, he pulled the rug out from underneath them, trapping Virat Kohli in front for 44 before dismissing the dangerous Rishabh Pant for four. He went on to wrap up a five-for (5/31) with the dismissals of Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah.

He then chimed in with the bat, making a 16-ball 21 in tricky conditions to help his side take an important first-innings lead.

Jamieson went to dismiss Kohli a second time for 13, as well Chesteshwar Pujara for 15 in his next over to trigger the day-six Indian collapse that would open the door for New Zealand's victory.

Unsurprising, he was adjudged Player of the Match.

GOING AT RECORD PACE

Already skyrocketing to sixth on the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test all-rounder rankingsand 13th on the bowling rankings, it’s been a whirlwind start for the quick, who has taken an astonishing 46 wickets across his first eight Test matches, at an equally remarkable average of 14.17.

To put that in perspective, the fastest New Zealand bowler to 50 Test wickets, Shane Bond, took 12 matches to reach the milestone. Only 19 players have reached the 50-wicket mark in fewer than 10 Tests.

Click here to vote for Kyle Jamieson as the ICC Men’s Player of Month for June.