Blair Tickner replaces Jamieson (Source: @Sarmad_Rasheed8/x.com)
After a heartbreaking defeat in the three-match T20I series against England, New Zealand gave a dominating start to the ongoing ODI series. But before facing the English side in the ODI series, the Kiwi squad faced a blow as Kyle Jamieson was ruled out of the series.
With the ace speedster ruled out of the series, New Zealand has moved quickly to fill the gap. Kiwi pacer Blair Tickner has been added to the squad as Jamieson’s replacement.
Blair Tickner replaces Jamieson
In the rain affected the T20I series against England, New Zealand ended up being heartbroken as the English side took away the series by 1-0. Keeping a mighty comeback in mind, the Kiwis answered back with a thrilling win in the first ODI. But before stepping into the series, they faced a massive blow as a side strain forced pacer Kyle Jamieson out of the series.
As the management was looking to fill the gap, another New Zealand pacer, Blair Tickner, was announced as Jamieson’s replacement. The Kiwi side believed that Tickner’s inclusion in the squad would be a massive boost for the upcoming matches.
The Kiwi pacer made his ODI debut for New Zealand in 2022 against the Netherlands and represented the Kiwis last time in the format in 2023 against Pakistan. In that time, he played 13 ODIs and secured 16 wickets with an economy rate of 6.53.
Kiwi head coach backs Tickner
After the pacer had been added to the squad, New Zealand’s head coach Rob Walter backed him. Praising Tickner’s skill and impact, Walter even drew parallels between his performances and those of Kyle Jamieson.
“Blair's an experienced campaigner and no stranger to international cricket. He bowls a heavy ball from a decent height with plenty of energy and aggression. In that respect, he can fill a similar role to what Kyle would normally perform,” he said.
After a thrilling win in the first ODI, New Zealand is leading the series by a 1-0 margin. As both sides are set to lock horns with each other in the second ODI on October 29, the cricket world is waiting for another exciting clash.
