O'Rourke Credits Early Test Success to Lessons from Southee and Henry

O’Rourke Credits Early Test Success to Lessons from Southee and Henry

Will O’Rourke has made an impressive debut in Test cricket, taking 26 wickets in his first five matches. His first Test in India was particularly memorable, as he achieved a seven-wicket haul, putting New Zealand in a strong position going into the final day. O’Rourke admitted he didn’t expect such success during his preparations for the tour, but the conditions in Bengaluru have been favorable.

Reflecting on his experience, he noted, “This is my first time here, and the pitch has offered more bounce and pace than we anticipated, which is great for a bowler like me. I’ve really enjoyed it so far.”

He didn’t have to wait long to achieve success, and it was a significant one at that. In his very first over, which was a wicket-maiden, he dismissed Virat Kohli, who gloved the ball to leg-slip. Reflecting on that moment, he smiled and said, “It’s pretty special to get out someone as great as him. You grow up watching these legends, so taking that wicket is definitely one of my highlights.”

However, the match hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing. After New Zealand bowled India out for just 46 runs in the first innings, they faced a tougher challenge in the second innings, as India’s top-order batters formed crucial partnerships. O’Rourke acknowledged this, saying, “Credit to them; they batted really well and put us under pressure. We were a bit looser than we wanted to be. With the softer ball, we aimed to be tight to the stumps to create pressure, allowing the spinners to attack more. But they played exceptionally well, and we had to wait for the new ball to get our breakthroughs.”

O’Rourke’s Rapid Rise: Thriving in Test Cricket and Embracing New Challenges

After quickly finding success in Test cricket, the 6’4″ pacer was even preferred over Matt Henry during New Zealand’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka. In his first match in Galle, he took five wickets, solidifying his place in the pace attack for the foreseeable future. O’Rourke credited his achievements to the groundwork he had done and the support from his teammates.

He noted, “The wickets were a bit drier than what we’re used to back home in New Zealand. Learning from experienced players like Matt Henry and Tim Southee, who have been here before, has been crucial for me.” He also mentioned that the New Zealand coaching staff advised him to keep things simple: “Gary Stead and Jacob Oram told me to just be myself. I bring a different balance to the team compared to Matt and Tim. So, I focused on being true to my style and doing what I do best. If that works out, then great!”

O’Rourke has adapted well to the SG Test ball, which is used exclusively in India. He explained, “As pace bowlers, we’ve really enjoyed it. It has a more pronounced seam than the Kookaburra, making it nice and hard at the start, so it bowls well. The larger seams are definitely a big advantage.”

New Zealand’s bowlers made a strong comeback with the second new ball after India had dominated much of the penultimate day. India lost seven wickets for just 54 runs, with O’Rourke taking three of those. This left India with a target of 107 runs to chase on the final day. However, O’Rourke cautioned that the win won’t be easy: “I wouldn’t say it’s a straightforward victory from here. We’re facing a world-class team, but we need to be confident going into tomorrow. Hopefully, the rain stays away so we can have a real go at it.”

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for IPLWin365 (IPL365 News), she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.