Kyle Jamieson returns to international cricket after a year out due to a stress fracture in his back. Recently named in New Zealand’s Champions Trophy squad as an injury replacement, he feels ready for this opportunity. Jamieson faced multiple injuries since June 2022 and had to undergo surgery. Following his return, he played domestic cricket for Canterbury, where he excelled with 14 wickets in the Super Smash. He expressed gratitude for the support during his recovery and acknowledged the challenges of returning to high-pressure cricket. New Zealand recently defeated Pakistan and will face Bangladesh and India in the tournament.
Jamieson’s most recent ODI appearance was in September 2023, where he played against Bangladesh just prior to the World Cup. Reflecting on his time away from the game, Jamieson noted that his return aligned “roughly around the time-frames we looked at”.
“I had a fantastic support team around me, and at the start, it was about piecing everything together—to envision what that journey would look like, and map out how we could climb back up from the lowest point,” he shared after arriving in Rawalpindi ahead of New Zealand’s match with Bangladesh.
Throughout his relatively brief international career, Jamieson has faced a series of injuries. In June 2022, he felt “sharp pain” in his lower back and left the field halfway through his 17th over during a Test match at Trent Bridge. Just before the home Tests against England in early 2023, a suspected recurrence of his back issue sidelined him, leading to surgery. He made his return to the field in August that year, participating in five T20Is and three ODIs during tours of the UAE and England. He then traveled to Bangladesh, playing in two of the three ODIs there.
New Zealand had even named Jamieson as a backup for the injured Matt Henry for the 2023 World Cup before officially including him in the squad. Although he didn’t play in the tournament, he participated in both Tests during the subsequent tour of Bangladesh. Unfortunately, a stiff hamstring kept him out of the ODI series at home against the same opponents, and he also missed the T20Is on “medical advice”. It was during the home series against South Africa that Jamieson found himself sidelined once again.
“It’s been a long journey. A lot of hard work has gone into my comeback,” he stated. “I had to return to square one and rebuild various aspects. [I needed to] fortify the foundations so I could re-enter this competitive environment and tackle different formats of cricket once again. It’s been a lengthy road, but it’s funny how quickly you forget the duration once you’re back in the mix.”
“From a cricket standpoint, it was wonderful to step back onto the field and assess where my game stands. I was generally confident that aspect would be fine, but it’s rewarding to re-engage in that setting.”
Kyle Jamieson on his return to action after a ten-month layoff
In preparation for the Champions Trophy, Jamieson eased back into the game by representing Canterbury in the Super Smash and Ford Trophy, New Zealand’s domestic T20 and 50-over competitions, respectively. He secured 14 wickets at an average of 18.71, making him Canterbury Magicians’ highest wicket-taker in the Super Smash, where he played in all 12 matches.
“I truly loved being part of a full campaign. Opportunities to engage in lengthy stretches with your domestic team are rare,” he remarked. “From a cricket perspective, it was fantastic to be back in the field and evaluate where my game stands. I was always reasonably confident that I’d adapt well, but it felt good to re-enter that competitive arena. Those are some of the pressures and challenges associated with high-stakes cricket.”