ICC WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

June 20, 2021

Kyle Jamieson

Hampshire Bowl

New Zealand Media Conference

Q. Kyle, how did that sort of feel this morning? How did it sort of work so nicely, really getting on top of India early on in the day?

KYLE JAMIESON: Oh, I think we were able to -- it was probably similar to the back end of yesterday. We probably just found the rewards a little bit quicker. I guess this morning it was just about putting the ball in good areas for long periods and we were able to do that this morning. We spoke about, I guess, how yesterday unfolded, and Tim gave us a good chat this morning before we went on the field, just around how we wanted to operate this morning. We were able to do that, and I guess get some rewards from that.

Q. What have you learnt going through your first Test in England at Lord's, then heading into this one in terms of bowling in English conditions?

KYLE JAMIESON: Oh, I guess I've probably learnt a little bit around technically what I'm trying to do. The ball certainly swung a fair amount, and probably at times almost too much. So I think for me personally today, and a little bit yesterday, as well, I probably tried to more wobble the ball than swing it and just kind of engage guys for longer periods.

I think especially when the ball gets a little bit older and the seam is still pretty good on the Dukes ball, so I think just technically how you're trying to operate the guys and when you want to swing it and how much you want to swing it and which which way you want to swing it as opposed to just I guess New Zealand where it doesn't tend to move as much in the air, and instead of guys playing and missing, they tend to grab the edge a little bit more.

Q. That's twice now in eight Tests you've had a chance for a hat-trick; it must be good to be getting two wickets in a row, but how much would you like to one day make it three?

KYLE JAMIESON: Oh, yeah, I mean, you're pretty fortunate if you're in that position, and I don't think you ever go out there when you bowl to try and take three in a row, you just try to put the ball in the right area and see what happens. Credit to Mohammad Shami; he played a pretty good cover drive off that third one, so he's got to take some credit there.

But yeah, I guess it's just good to contribute and nice to, I guess, wrap things up quite quickly. We know how niggly at times I guess low-order batters can be, so to wrap that up in the fashion we did was pretty pleasing.

Q. After bowling well and seeing what it was like playing, how did you rank the performance by the openers?

KYLE JAMIESON: Oh, they were superb. I think from my short time in this team it was some of the best batting that I'd seen. I think the way that Tom and Dev approached that, the ball was going to move around, we knew that, and the conditions were probably going to be in the bowler's favour. The way they approached that pretty tricky period was outstanding.

I think they're two pretty world-class openers in my opinion anyway. The way they tackled that, built a partnership, and yeah, got us to where we are was certainly pretty special.

Q. Given the situation after three days, you probably feel that you had a slight edge in the match so far, but conditions don't look great for tomorrow. How do you look to see things progressing?

KYLE JAMIESON: Yeah, I haven't seen the forecast a huge amount. Obviously we've got a little bit of time up our sleeve with that sixth day. Be interesting to see, I guess, how that plays out. I guess where we're sitting now it would be pretty comfortable. I think if you said to us at the start of the game that we can get them for low 200s and then to be 100 for two, we'd be pretty happy. We'll have to see how the gets next day or so pans out, but we're certainly in a position that we'd like to be in in terms of moving this game forward.

Q. You dismissed Virat once in New Zealand, also. Could you just tell us, is it a kind of a pattern that you people have set up while dismissing Virat with outgoing deliveries and then bringing one back in? Could you just tell us about the game plan when it comes to Virat?

KYLE JAMIESON: Oh, I guess, yeah, maybe there's some sort of pattern. I don't necessarily know if we talk about it a huge amount. I think the one that I was able to get with him today certainly seamed back a little bit, and those are pretty hard to control as a bowler and pretty hard to manage as a batter no matter who you are, so I don't think it's necessarily just for him.

But yeah, obviously he's a massive part of their team and a pretty big wicket to get. To get him pretty early this morning I guess was nice and was pleasing and pretty crucial for how the day unfolded.

Q. With regard to Virat Kohli, how pleasing was it for you to dismiss him? And you spent a lot of time with him, so did you notice any chinks in his armor?

KYLE JAMIESON: Well, not really. I think he's a world-class batter, and those guys don't tend to have too many chinks in their armor. Certainly pleasing to get him. Like I said before, he's obviously a massive part of their lineup, and to get him early certainly set things up nicely for us. Just was pleasing in terms of for myself being able to try to wobble the ball and try and keep him in check a little bit and to get that wicket was pleasing and just a great start for our game. We spoke around how we wanted to operate this morning and how important today was going to be in the context of the game, so to start that way was, yeah, obviously pretty pleasing.

Q. Just wondering, obviously two guys in the Kiwi camp really stood out at the moment, two of the newest guys, yourself and Devon Conway. Is it something about the team environment that enables you guys to come to an occasion like this, a tour like this and really perform this well?

KYLE JAMIESON: Yeah, I think the team culture and the environment that has been created over a long period of time certainly is one of the strengths of this team. It allows guys -- I certainly have been pretty comfortable coming into this group and just being able to go about your business. I think also the fact that you've got some pretty world-class guys around you sort of allows you to settle into your role. I can't necessarily speak for Devon in terms of how he feels, but certainly for me it's been an absolute pleasure coming into this group and just be able to go about my business and learn off these guys, and yeah, I guess just ride the coattails of them a little bit in terms of the pressure they build and the runs they score.

Yeah, I can't really speak highly enough of the environment and the culture that the guys have built over a period of time, and certainly made, I guess, my transition into international cricket pretty easy.

Q. What does a culture like that do, to be roughly 100 behind? I guess time was running out in the match but you're looking fairly well set.

KYLE JAMIESON: Yeah, it was good. I think it was certainly a tricky period, and like I said before, the way that Tom and Dev went about their business at the start and sort of set the platform for us and then hopefully Kane coming in, as well, and him just doing Kane things, really, yeah, it's good.

It's important, and we spoke about today being important in terms of putting the ball in the right areas and getting wickets, and then obviously off the back of that we had to start well with the bat. We were able to do that.

Whatever unfolds in terms of the weather or bad light or whatever, we can't really control, but we can control how we choose to operate and how we tackle each moment, and obviously today was a pleasing day from that front.

Q. I just wanted to ask you, now that quite a lot of cricket has taken place on this pitch, what kind of a lead do you feel you'll be comfortable with, and how do you think the batting plans or batsmen might change as the test goes forward?

KYLE JAMIESON: Well, it's probably a little bit early to say what sort of lead. I think you're always hoping for more of a lead or as much of a lead as you can get. I don't think you can really put a number on it. Obviously we've seen that it's been tough, and we know in England that things when they happen can happen quickly. The way we started tonight was obviously pretty good in terms of that front. We didn't -- things didn't happen too quick and we were able to build a pretty solid foundation.

I think obviously the key moving forward is to try and build on that, and if we can get ahead, great, if we can get 50, 100, 150, great. I think as a bowling unit we'll take whatever we can get really.

Yeah, we've seen that it's not easy. It's not easy batting conditions, and with the class of this Indian bowling lineup we know that it's going to be tough.

We know again, it's just going to be about trying to win the moment and to stay in the moment. If we can do that, whatever lead we can get to, if we get there, and then build on will be great.