Wellington’s cricket scene is reeling from a major blow just ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Fast bowler Adam Milne has been ruled out due to injury, prompting New Zealand to call up Kyle Jamieson as his replacement.
Milne suffered a hamstring injury while bowling in the South Africa 20 league on Sunday. The setback has shattered his dreams of featuring in the global tournament, leaving fans and teammates devastated.
Head coach Rob Walter expressed his sorrow over Milne’s misfortune. ‘We’re all gutted for Adam. He’d put in tremendous work preparing for the event and was delivering top performances for Eastern Cape Sunrisers. It’s a tough break, and we wish him a speedy recovery,’ Walter stated.
Turning to the positive, Walter praised Jamieson as the ideal stand-in. ‘Kyle is a hard worker with the skills and experience to make an impact. It’s fantastic that he’s already with us in India, having shone on this tour as a key part of our pace attack,’ he added.
The 31-year-old right-arm pacer, currently on New Zealand’s white-ball tour of India, was initially named a reserve. He boasts 23 wickets from 24 T20Is for the Black Caps.
New Zealand faces a challenging Group D alongside South Africa, Afghanistan, UAE, and Canada. Their campaign kicks off on February 8 against Afghanistan at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, where Jamieson’s inclusion could prove pivotal in navigating the tough group.