A tall pacer from New Zealand’s South Island, Jacob Duffy has been on the domestic scene for quite some time. Having made his First-Class debut in 2012 and his international debut in late 2020, Duffy had to wait in the wings while the senior trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner dominated the national pace attack. For more than a decade, this established combination kept New Zealand’s pace resources strong and left little room for newcomers. It was only in 2024, when the country’s pace arsenal entered a phase of transition, that opportunities finally started to open up. Matt Henry became the leader of the pack, with Will O’Rourke partnering him, while the likes of Zack Foulkes, Ben Sears and Kyle Jamieson also contributed to the evolving fast-bowling group. Although Duffy remained prepared and capable, modern cricket’s appetite for raw pace often left him overlooked.
The Arrival
Patience and perseverance have long been Duffy’s strongest traits. With every passing domestic season, his chances of breaking into the Test team seemed to narrow, especially with younger and faster bowlers emerging. However, a string of injuries during New Zealand’s tour of Zimbabwe in July this year created unexpected openings.
Duffy, along with Zack Foulkes and Matt Fisher, finally received his Test cap. He immediately looked at home in the format he had been groomed for. When he later played the ongoing Christchurch Test against the West Indies, he made sure to exploit the favourable conditions, ripping through the visitors’ batting line-up and claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket—a moment that validated years of persistence.
He then followed it up with another five wicket haul at the historic Basin Reserve. Duffy has now 16 wickets in 3 Test career with an exceptional average of 17.43.
The Grind in First-Class Cricket
Jacob Duffy played his first domestic First-Class match in 2012 for Otago against Wellington at the University Oval in Dunedin. Tall, disciplined and capable of swinging the ball both ways, he possessed the attributes traditionally suited to New Zealand’s Test bowling blueprint. Yet, the 18-year-old faced several technical shortcomings early on. His bowling stride tended to collapse, affecting rhythm and reducing his control over swing. Rectifying these issues required time, patience and deliberate work on his action. Once he ironed out the flaws and achieved consistency, Duffy quickly rose to become one of the best bowlers on New Zealand’s domestic circuit.
His sustained success across formats is evident from his records. He is now the highest wicket-taker for Otago in all formats combined. In First-Class cricket, he stands second only to Neil Wagner, with 263 wickets compared to Wagner’s 277. In both List A and T20 cricket for Otago, Duffy holds the top spot—testament to his longevity and reliability.
Difficulty in Getting into the National Team
Despite his strong domestic performances, breaking into the national team proved an uphill battle. Modern team tactics increasingly favoured express pace, which meant bowlers like Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner, Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke were handed Test opportunities ahead of him. While Duffy possessed movement, discipline and control, he did not offer the high-end speed that selectors frequently sought.
Resulantly, he was primarily used in limited-overs formats, often as part of workload management rotations.
At 31, when it appeared that a Test debut might never materialise, he was finally rewarded with a place in the Test squad and subsequently made his debut against Zimbabwe.
What Lies Ahead
With New Zealand’s bowling unit entering a new era under the leadership of Matt Henry, Duffy now forms an important component of the attack. His experience and control will be vital as New Zealand aims to perform strongly in the current World Test Championship cycle and prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup in the subcontinent. Competition for places remains fierce—a positive sign for New Zealand cricket—but it also means Duffy must continue delivering consistent performances to hold his spot. For now, he is enjoying his long-awaited moment in the sun, staying true to the mantra of patience that has served him well throughout his career.
