India vs. New Zealand 2021: Kyle Jamieson ruled out from T20Is to focus on test series
New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson has decided to skip the three T20 Internationals against India to focus on the upcoming Test rubber, the first series of the new World Test championship cycle. Jamieson will thus join his skipper Kane Williamson, who has also decided to miss the T20Is to prepare for the two-match Test series, starting on November 25.
"We decided through discussions with Kane and Kyle that they would not play in this T20 series," said trainer Gary Stead of stuff.co.nz as saying. "You will both prepare for the friendlies and I think you will find that other guys will be involved in the friendlies that won't play the entire series either.
"It's a bit of a balancing act right now, and with three T20 games in five days plus traveling to three different cities, it's a very, very busy time." Lockie Ferguson, excluded from the T20 World Cup due to a calf injury, was deemed fit.
"Lockie is likely to play tomorrow night which is fantastic for getting him back to play," said Stead. "He has recovered very well from the calf injury he sustained at the start of the World Cup. It's so exciting for him and exciting for our team to have him back on the attack."
New Zealand, which lost the T20 World Cup final on Sunday, flew into India the next morning and has little time to acclimatize, which Stead and Williamson consider to be less than ideal. "It is the first time that I can remember that we are entering another series so quickly right at the end of the T20 World Cup," said Stead. "It's definitely tough and challenging, but it's what lies ahead."
The T20I kick-off on Wednesday in Jaipur will be followed by games on Friday and Sunday in Ranchi and Kolkata, respectively, before the test series begins on November 23.