Who is William O’Rourke, the 6.4-foot New Zealand rising star who dismissed Kohli, Jaiswal, and Rahul?

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

William O’Rourke, a six-foot-four pacer from New Zealand, has quickly risen to prominence in international cricket. At 23, O’Rourke holds the record for the most wickets taken by a debutant for New Zealand in Test cricket. In the first Test match against India in Bengaluru, O’Rourke dismissed three key Indian batsmen: Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul.

Rising in New Zealand Cricket

Trent Boult has retired from international cricket, Tim Southee is nearing the end of his career, and Neil Wagner has also retired from Test cricket. Additionally, Kyle Jamieson is currently sidelined due to injury. In this context, O’Rourke has stepped in as a fresh talent. His performance in domestic cricket earned him a place in the national team, with 69 wickets from 19 first-class matches and 42 wickets in 24 List A matches.

Mentored by Kylie Jamieson

A vital aspect of O’Rourke’s growth has been his mentorship from Kyle Jamieson, who is even taller at six feet eight inches. Jamieson has guided O’Rourke at Canterbury, helping him refine his skills and develop an aggressive bowling style. This mentorship has enabled O’Rourke to effectively use his height, generating bounce and pace to challenge experienced batters.

In March 2023, O’Rourke joined the New Zealand A team for a series against Australia A. He made his ODI debut in December 2023, taking five wickets in three matches. This achievement made him the first England-born cricketer to represent New Zealand since Roger Twose.

Impressive Test Debut Performance

O’Rourke