Blackcaps coach Gary Stead is quelling any long-term fears over the fitness of bowler Kyle Jamieson, after another injury scare on the eve of the summer-opening One Day International series against Bangladesh.
The 28-year-old has had a torrid run of injuries in the past two seasons, namely with back complaints keeping him sidelined for nearly all of 2023.
Jamieson returned to the Blackcaps' side during their run towards the Cricket World Cup in India earlier this year and made his test comeback in the 1-1 series draw away in Bangladesh this month.
But as both sides prepare to reciprocate with three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals to kick off Aotearoa's summer, stiffness in Jamieson's left hamstring has seen Wellington fast bowler Ben Sears added to the Blackcaps' 15-man squad as a precaution.
Speaking before Sunday's series opener, though, Stead assured any injury is not a major setback for Jamieson, who could take the field if desperately required.
"Kyle had the injury through the second test in Bangladesh in Dhaka," Stead updated on Saturday.
"He's progressing really well. But in our opinion right now, it's just not quite worth the risk of putting him up in this first game.
"If it was a final or a World Cup game, he would be available to play. But in our opinion, it's just worth waiting that little bit longer."
While unlikely to feature in the series opener in Dunedin on Sunday, Jamieson will still be assessed further before any decision is made on the part he'll play against Bangladesh.
"Kyle will have another [training] bowl tomorrow," Stead continued. "If he gets through that, it's likely Ben will be released from the squad.
"But we'll just see how Kyle gets through tomorrow. Like I said, he is tracking well."
Should Jamieson be unavailable for the series, 25-year-old Sears' chances of making his ODI debut would greatly increase.
The Firebirds quick has long been in the eye of national selectors, as one of few bowlers to genuinely hit the 150km/h mark, repeatedly.
While he's already notched six caps in T20 cricket, taking six wickets at an average just shy of 23, Sears is yet to feature in 50 over cricket for his country.
And with the Blackcaps' senior players rested for this series after the heavy workload of the World Cup and Bangladesh tour, an inexperienced bowling attack will likely take the field at University Oval.
Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy and the uncapped Will O'Rourke are the specialist options with the ball, while Josh Clarkson could also debut as an all-rounder.
And aside from Milne, no other option in the squad would provide the same express pace Sears does.
Tactically, Stead explains, Sears would also give the Blackcaps the ability to have a fast bowler in the middle of the innings, where teams look to accumulate - akin to the role Lockie Ferguson plays in the first-choice side.
"The other three bowlers in our squad right now are new ball bowlers, and can bowl more up front," Stead added.
"Ben gives us that option of having pace - and genuine pace - through the middle overs.
"We've had Ben in the past, he's had a bit of an injury run but he's back bowling fast again.
"We like the look of how he's going."
