August 2, 2025 • 7 mins
The Black Caps have started strong in Zimbabwe, having beaten the other side by by nine wickets in the first test.
The tourists dismissed Zimbabwe for 165 in their second innings, then chased down the eight runs required for the win.
Black Caps bowling coach Jacob Oram joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Get you to Zimbabwe where the black Caps wrapped up
the first Test against Zimbabwe and Bulawayo by nine wickets
inside three days. The second Test to come. Bowling coach
Jacob borhams with us. Jacob want to talk a bit
about mat Henry actually, but what were your overall levels
of satisfaction as a coaching group after that? Very convincing
when in the first Test?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Are you very happy?
Speaker 4 (00:35):
I thought we played pretty much for eighty ninety percent
of the game exactly the way we wanted to would
have been nice. We've got some more first settings run
from the position we were in, but not to be But
I thought we bought exceptionally well. We asked enough questions
of the Zimbabwe that is to make it hard for them,
and I think, you know, to get twenty wickets for
(00:56):
only three hundred and ten runs across those three days
shows the quality of our bowling and catching as well
and we're able to win comfortably.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
So the coaches were very happy for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
How serious are the injury to Nathan Smith and will
I Rock? We didn't see Nathan Smith bowl at all
in the second innings. Will I Rock did for a
bit but then went off injured. How serious are those injuries?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Yeah, unfortunate. Nathan Smith isn't too good. I would say
he's doubtful for that second Test. But willow Rock We've
still got our fingers crossed obviously with a guy that
will add the height to start with, you know, that's
our long back along spine to handle. But he's so
important to us, not only in the short term but
the long term as well. We just need to be
(01:37):
careful and make sure we do the right thing for
will and sort of not put this second Test at
the forefront of mines and think we've got a huge
summer at home starting well well under two months away.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So we've got to make sure we look after him
because he.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Is vital to our prospects going forward.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I've been talking on the show this afternoon about Matt
Henry nine for ninety in this Test match, his second
best Test match bowling return. Can you talk a bit
about what you've seen Jacob from Henry in recent times
and his development as a Test bowler.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Well, yeah, look, I think if you rewind probably only
what two or three years he was carrying the drinks
a lot.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
I think the thing with Matt Henry is he's able
to get some consistent playing time now and he's been
a regular in the test site for probably the last
two seasons, and you're seeing a guy who's just at
the peak of his game in terms of his skills,
the repertoire he has, the amount of deliveries he can bowl,
but also on top of that, he's an experienced level
there at his age, and the amount of cricket he's
played where he's able to, you know, to stay ahead
(02:42):
of the game and make the right call in terms
of what deliveries to bowl, what feels to set.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
And at the moment he's nothing but for us.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Do you think he's bowling with more variation now or
do you just think he's bowling his existing repertoire more effectively.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, Look, I think it's probably a bit of both.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
I think, you know, he's always working on his craft,
which is really awesome to watch from my position, you know,
and a lot of that is self driven, which again
I think shows the professional in him.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
He's always looking for new slower balls or.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Just any sort of variation in his game, working on angles,
on the crease, shorter balls, full of balls, different lines,
so he's always working. But I think I think at
the moment it's everything is combining so nicely for Matt.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
It's his consistency.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
It's his delivery, it's the physical side of his game,
is fitness, and I think it's all coming together that
you've got a guy at the peak of his powers
and you know, fingers crossed he can stay on the
field for you know, as much as we needed throughout
a long summer.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Indeed, and of course he's had to buy his time,
hasn't he rightly? So behind you know, our best pace
bowling trio ever to sow They Trent Bolt, Neil Wagner.
He has got his opportunity now, has his effectiveness as
a Test bowler being really just a direct result of
playing more Test cricket.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
I think it's probably the answer is yes. I mean,
he's always had the skills.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
We know that. I mean he's been met.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Henry's been around now for a decade, so you know
that was identified way back and whatever it was twenty thirteen,
fourteen fifteen.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
I don't know when he made his debut, but I
mean I know, he.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Was at the twenty fifteen World Cup at home summer
in New Zealand and Australia, so he's been around a
while but had to do his time behind the wagoners,
the sound he's the bolts.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
But now he's got his charp o hands.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
And I think you're seeing, as I said before, you're
seeing a guy whose skills are outed, but just getting
that opportunity to be on the field and lead the
attack day in day out.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
It's coming to the fore. He's got leadership, he's got quality.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
And just the ability to execute more of form than
not shows how good he is.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, he certainly is. Just a couple of other matters.
How you adjusting to a new coach. Obviously Gary Steed's
been at their home for a while now not there anymore.
Rob Walter is the new head coach. How you adjusting
to working alongside Rob Walter.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
It's been a really seamless transition actually, which I think
is which is a great thing for myself as a coach,
but more importantly for the players as well. It hasn't
been that disruptive in terms of a necessarily, you know,
an outrageously different approach. He's very much appeared about the
environment and the culture, which is probably pretty cliches stuff.
(05:26):
But you know, he's come in and he's observed a lot.
I mean there are things obviously that he has talked
to us about and you know, little shifts here and there,
but he's come in and he's it's almost like status quo,
and I think that's a really good thing. I mean
that the team wasn't broken as such, so he's come
in and he's just added little bits and pieces where needed.
But I think I can see really positive signs for
(05:47):
us and he's brought some good stuff already and I
think only better things to come.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
So and you talked about the busy home summer, but
it's busy really in terms of white ball cricket. The
only Test matches in the home summer are the three
against the West Indies, all in December, so nothing after Christmas.
Would you like to dearly and we know why you can't,
but would you ideally like to play more Test cricket
than that?
Speaker 3 (06:13):
One hundred percent?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
And if that's the SoundBite, that's great, But I think
if you asked any of the players or coaches, yeah,
we'd love to play or be involved I'm not playing obviously,
but be involved with more Test cricket. It is the
pinnacle of cricket, you know. I've just finished watching it
the days play India England over there in London, and
(06:34):
it's it's great television and we do enjoy playing it
and watching it and be involved in it. But like
you said, I understand the reasons why. You know, there's
a T twenty World Cup and a tour of India
before that January February, so it is what it is.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
But you know, if the opportunity rises, and I'd love
for more Tests to be on the calendar.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Although I'm saying that we had nine in about what
three months last year through Sri Lanka, India and in
the home series against England, and then we've got quite
a big Test Dietony Australia as well, so that's specta all.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
But yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Good stuff, Jacob. Hey God to leave it there, mate,
but thanks for joining us. Jacob orum bowling coach for
the black Caps. Easy win in the first Test. Second
one starts on Thursday, same venue, Bulawayo, and just on
that England India series that's coming down to the wire.
Fifth Test, fifth and final Test England fifty for one.
It stumps on Day three, so two days to go.
(07:28):
They need another three hundred and twenty four to win.
That would give them a three to one series win.
India need nine wickets if there to win this one
and draw the series, so an exciting final couple of
days coming up over there.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Get you to Zimbabwe where the black Caps wrapped up
the first Test against Zimbabwe and Bulawayo by nine wickets
inside three days. The second Test to come. Bowling coach
Jacob borhams with us. Jacob want to talk a bit
about mat Henry actually, but what were your overall levels
of satisfaction as a coaching group after that? Very convincing
when in the first Test?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Are you very happy?
Speaker 4 (00:35):
I thought we played pretty much for eighty ninety percent
of the game exactly the way we wanted to would
have been nice. We've got some more first settings run
from the position we were in, but not to be But
I thought we bought exceptionally well. We asked enough questions
of the Zimbabwe that is to make it hard for them,
and I think, you know, to get twenty wickets for
(00:56):
only three hundred and ten runs across those three days
shows the quality of our bowling and catching as well
and we're able to win comfortably.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
So the coaches were very happy for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
How serious are the injury to Nathan Smith and will
I Rock? We didn't see Nathan Smith bowl at all
in the second innings. Will I Rock did for a
bit but then went off injured. How serious are those injuries?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Yeah, unfortunate. Nathan Smith isn't too good. I would say
he's doubtful for that second Test. But willow Rock We've
still got our fingers crossed obviously with a guy that
will add the height to start with, you know, that's
our long back along spine to handle. But he's so
important to us, not only in the short term but
the long term as well. We just need to be
(01:37):
careful and make sure we do the right thing for
will and sort of not put this second Test at
the forefront of mines and think we've got a huge
summer at home starting well well under two months away.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So we've got to make sure we look after him
because he.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Is vital to our prospects going forward.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I've been talking on the show this afternoon about Matt
Henry nine for ninety in this Test match, his second
best Test match bowling return. Can you talk a bit
about what you've seen Jacob from Henry in recent times
and his development as a Test bowler.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Well, yeah, look, I think if you rewind probably only
what two or three years he was carrying the drinks
a lot.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
I think the thing with Matt Henry is he's able
to get some consistent playing time now and he's been
a regular in the test site for probably the last
two seasons, and you're seeing a guy who's just at
the peak of his game in terms of his skills,
the repertoire he has, the amount of deliveries he can bowl,
but also on top of that, he's an experienced level
there at his age, and the amount of cricket he's
played where he's able to, you know, to stay ahead
(02:42):
of the game and make the right call in terms
of what deliveries to bowl, what feels to set.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
And at the moment he's nothing but for us.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Do you think he's bowling with more variation now or
do you just think he's bowling his existing repertoire more effectively.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, Look, I think it's probably a bit of both.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
I think, you know, he's always working on his craft,
which is really awesome to watch from my position, you know,
and a lot of that is self driven, which again
I think shows the professional in him.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
He's always looking for new slower balls or.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Just any sort of variation in his game, working on angles,
on the crease, shorter balls, full of balls, different lines,
so he's always working. But I think I think at
the moment it's everything is combining so nicely for Matt.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
It's his consistency.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
It's his delivery, it's the physical side of his game,
is fitness, and I think it's all coming together that
you've got a guy at the peak of his powers
and you know, fingers crossed he can stay on the
field for you know, as much as we needed throughout
a long summer.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Indeed, and of course he's had to buy his time,
hasn't he rightly? So behind you know, our best pace
bowling trio ever to sow They Trent Bolt, Neil Wagner.
He has got his opportunity now, has his effectiveness as
a Test bowler being really just a direct result of
playing more Test cricket.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
I think it's probably the answer is yes. I mean,
he's always had the skills.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
We know that. I mean he's been met.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Henry's been around now for a decade, so you know
that was identified way back and whatever it was twenty thirteen,
fourteen fifteen.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
I don't know when he made his debut, but I
mean I know, he.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Was at the twenty fifteen World Cup at home summer
in New Zealand and Australia, so he's been around a
while but had to do his time behind the wagoners,
the sound he's the bolts.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
But now he's got his charp o hands.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
And I think you're seeing, as I said before, you're
seeing a guy whose skills are outed, but just getting
that opportunity to be on the field and lead the
attack day in day out.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
It's coming to the fore. He's got leadership, he's got quality.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
And just the ability to execute more of form than
not shows how good he is.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, he certainly is. Just a couple of other matters.
How you adjusting to a new coach. Obviously Gary Steed's
been at their home for a while now not there anymore.
Rob Walter is the new head coach. How you adjusting
to working alongside Rob Walter.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
It's been a really seamless transition actually, which I think
is which is a great thing for myself as a coach,
but more importantly for the players as well. It hasn't
been that disruptive in terms of a necessarily, you know,
an outrageously different approach. He's very much appeared about the
environment and the culture, which is probably pretty cliches stuff.
(05:26):
But you know, he's come in and he's observed a lot.
I mean there are things obviously that he has talked
to us about and you know, little shifts here and there,
but he's come in and he's it's almost like status quo,
and I think that's a really good thing. I mean
that the team wasn't broken as such, so he's come
in and he's just added little bits and pieces where needed.
But I think I can see really positive signs for
(05:47):
us and he's brought some good stuff already and I
think only better things to come.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
So and you talked about the busy home summer, but
it's busy really in terms of white ball cricket. The
only Test matches in the home summer are the three
against the West Indies, all in December, so nothing after Christmas.
Would you like to dearly and we know why you can't,
but would you ideally like to play more Test cricket
than that?
Speaker 3 (06:13):
One hundred percent?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
And if that's the SoundBite, that's great, But I think
if you asked any of the players or coaches, yeah,
we'd love to play or be involved I'm not playing obviously,
but be involved with more Test cricket. It is the
pinnacle of cricket, you know. I've just finished watching it
the days play India England over there in London, and
(06:34):
it's it's great television and we do enjoy playing it
and watching it and be involved in it. But like
you said, I understand the reasons why. You know, there's
a T twenty World Cup and a tour of India
before that January February, so it is what it is.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
But you know, if the opportunity rises, and I'd love
for more Tests to be on the calendar.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Although I'm saying that we had nine in about what
three months last year through Sri Lanka, India and in
the home series against England, and then we've got quite
a big Test Dietony Australia as well, so that's specta all.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
But yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Good stuff, Jacob. Hey God to leave it there, mate,
but thanks for joining us. Jacob orum bowling coach for
the black Caps. Easy win in the first Test. Second
one starts on Thursday, same venue, Bulawayo, and just on
that England India series that's coming down to the wire.
Fifth Test, fifth and final Test England fifty for one.
It stumps on Day three, so two days to go.
(07:28):
They need another three hundred and twenty four to win.
That would give them a three to one series win.
India need nine wickets if there to win this one
and draw the series, so an exciting final couple of
days coming up over there.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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