In a recent development, New Zealand has brought in pace bowling all-rounder Kyle Jamieson to bolster their squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. The strategic move was made in response to an unfortunate injury sustained by Matt Henry during a match against South Africa in Pune.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) released a statement confirming the addition of Kyle Jamieson to the BLACKCAPS ICC Cricket World Cup squad. Interestingly, Jamieson had previously served as cover for Tim Southee earlier in the tournament. He is set to join the team in Bengaluru, arriving late on Thursday, just in time for their upcoming game against Pakistan.

The decision to enlist Jamieson as cover stems from the uncertain status of Matt Henry’s right hamstring, as well as Lockie Ferguson’s ongoing recovery from an Achilles injury. Coach Gary Stead emphasized the importance of maintaining a full complement of bowlers for the upcoming match against Pakistan.

Stead clarified: “We could not risk having a bowler down for Saturday due to the severity of Matt’s injury and the short turnaround time for the Pakistan match. Matt has been a world-class performer for us in ODI cricket over the past two World Cup cycles, so we’ll have our fingers crossed for the scan results later today.”

Furthermore, Coach Stead expressed his confidence in Kyle Jamieson’s readiness to contribute to the team’s success.

“Kyle is in route right now and we’re excited to have him rejoin the group. He will likely train with us on Friday with the intention of being available for Saturday’s game. Kyle had the opportunity to train with us for two full weeks earlier in the tournament and has also played a Plunket Shield match. “We are confident that he will be able to hit the ground running,” Stead said.

New Zealand’s next challenge awaits them in the form of a match against Pakistan in Bengaluru on Saturday. They currently stand at number four in the points table with four wins and three losses, hoping to continue their strong performance in the tournament.