The first thing that comes to mind when talking about New Zealand cricket is Richard Hadlee. But his elder brother Dayle, who featured in 26 Tests and 11 ODIs, too seems to have a role to play.

How? It was the former pacer who identified Kyle Jamieson’s abilities as a fast bowler.

Until early 2013, Jamieson used to be a top-order batter and someone who could roll his arm over too. But leading into the 2014 U-19 World Cup, Dayle, also a former head bowling coach of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), was determined to transform Jamieson into an out-and-out fast bowler. And the towering six-footer (6’8”) responded brilliantly.

Just over a year into international cricket, Jamieson has already moved closer to 50 wickets — 44 at present — in only his eighth Test appearance so far. For sure, that speaks volumes of his skills and quality as a bowler.

According to former New Zealand pacer Dion Nash, it’s Jamieson’s uncomplicated action that provides a fair assistance to him and should also go a good way to help him stay injury free.

“Kyle has certainly made a great start and I think all New Zealand cricket fans are quietly excited about what he can do in the long term,” Nash, who has also led New Zealand in three Tests and seven ODIs, told The Telegraph from Auckland on Monday.

“He has a very simple and efficient action which, to me, bodes well, as it should mean he can remain injury-free. He also has wonderful aggression and seems to really want wickets all the time... Feels like he is really in the game all the time,” Nash added.

After the New Zealand tour last year, India, including captain Virat Kohli, once again faced the music from Jamieson in the rain-marred World Test Championship final in Southampton.

What should be the ideal approach then for batsmen to keep a bowler like Jamieson at bay?

“What Jamieson does is, he challenges batsmen in unique ways. When you look at it, it doesn’t seem to be the easiest thing to do because you don’t quite come across people of that structure and skill-set,” says former India wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta.

“Not just his structure, but his skill-set is equally good. It complements his structure or it could be the other way round too. It’s difficult, but you still need to follow the basics... Whatever you generally do like watching the ball closely and being careful about dealing with the bounce.”

Agreed, Jamieson is already a force to reckon with in international cricket. But has he peaked too fast? Besides, his experience in the subcontinent being only a few IPL matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore, how tough could it be for the 26-year-old to succeed in this part of the world?

“It’s an unfair statement to make that he is peaking too fast. He’s a genuinely good bowler and not something like a mystery bowler that he will be found out.

“And as for performing in the subcontinent, you won’t get seam or swing. But bounce will be there. Obviously, he won’t get such pacer-friendly conditions, but that won’t change the fact that he’s a good bowler. Don’t (Mohammed) Shami and (Jasprit) Bumrah take wickets in Indian conditions?” Dasgupta argued.

What Jamieson needs to keep doing is play to his strengths, Nash emphasised. “I hope he doesn’t try to bowl too fast, but just keeps working on his skill as he has such natural advantages to exploit.

“It would be great to see him play to those strengths.”