Black Caps pace bowler Kyle Jamieson to miss Zimbabwe tour

Wednesday, 25 June 2025

The New Zealand-based South African succeeds Gary Stead as the Black Caps coach over all three formats.

The Black Caps won’t have Kyle Jamieson available for their tour of Zimbabwe next month.

But fans can rest easy that the injury-plagued pace bowler hasn’t been ruled out with further back problems.

Jamieson will miss the T20 tri-series against the hosts and South Africa, along with the following two-test series, on parental leave. His partner Emma is due to have the couple’s first child while the New Zealand team will be in Zimbabwe.

The 30-year-old made his return to international cricket in late February at the Champions Trophy, as an injury replacement for Lockie Ferguson, after successfully recovering from another back stress fracture.

The Black Caps T20 squad for the tri-series is due to be named in the next few days, with the test squad to follow later.

Jamieson would have been a likely selection for the white-ball squad under new coach Rob Walter as the Black Caps eye the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka early next year.

Kyle Jamieson starred for New Zealand in their World Test Championship final win against India at Southampton, England in 2021.

Walter and selection manager Sam Wells may have opted not to pick Jamieson for the two tests however, given he didn’t play in the Plunket Shield last season for Canterbury after returning during summer.

But Jamieson, who has taken 80 wickets in just 19 tests at an average of 19.73 - and was a key part of the New Zealand XI which won the World Test Championship final against India in 2021 - is still keen and capable to resume his test career. New Zealand will play three tests at home against the West Indies in December.

“I think all three forms of cricket are on the table,” Jamieson said.

With the 2.03 metre pace bowler unavailable for the tour, Jacob Duffy’s chances of making his test debut have improved.

While Zimbabwe were beaten by an innings in their most recent test in England, Walter is likely to want to have a near first-choice squad for the two matches - without the unavailable Kane Williamson.

Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke will likely spearhead the pace attack, and skipper Tom Latham may opt to add two further seamers with Glenn Phillips as his spin-bowling option.

That could open the door for the 30-year-old Southlander, who has played more than 100 first-class games while still awaiting his test chance. Duffy is currently playing in England and in five County Championship first-class matches has taken 19 wickets at 28.52 for Worcestershire.

Nathan Smith could keep his role as third-change and bat at No.8, while speedster Ben Sears could also be in contention for just his second test appearance.

The two back injuries have meant Jamieson has missed 19 tests since June 2022.

He impressed twice against eventual tournament winners India at the ODI Champions Trophy and took 3-8 from four overs versus Pakistan in Christchurch in March in his first T20 international in 18 months.

Jamieson then headed to play for the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League, before returning home when the competition was postponed due to escalating tension on the border between the hosts and India.

Jamieson didn’t return on resumption; instead joining the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League as a replacement player and took 3-48 in the final as his side was defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six runs.