In a season marked by injuries to New Zealand’s frontline bowlers, Jacob Duffy has risen from dependable support act to undisputed leader of the attack. What began in white-ball cricket carried seamlessly into the Test arena, where Duffy spearheaded New Zealand’s 2-0 series victory over West Indies at Mount Maunganui, thriving amid adversity and responsibility.
During the T20I series against West Indies, white-ball captain Mitchell Santner openly labelled Duffy a leader alongside Matt Henry. With Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke sidelined, Duffy once again found himself at the forefront — this time in the longest format — and delivered emphatically.
Traditionally known for swing and relentless accuracy, Duffy showcased a different dimension on a deteriorating Bay Oval surface. Channeling shades of Neil Wagner, he slammed the ball into the pitch with intent, extracting steep bounce and unsettling West Indies’ batters, who only weeks earlier had pulled off a famous rearguard draw in Christchurch.
“I’m just enjoying the ride, really,” Duffy said after sealing the series. “I don’t look too far ahead. It’s been an incredible journey, especially with so many bowlers going down and the workload increasing. But when Tom [Latham] keeps tossing me the ball, I see that as a privilege. That trust means a lot, and all I’m trying to do is repay it.”
The numbers underline his impact. Duffy claimed 23 wickets in the series at an average of just 15.43, eclipsing Trent Boult’s record for most wickets in a single home Test series by a New Zealander. His overall tally for the year climbed to 81, taking him past Sir Richard Hadlee’s long-standing record for the most wickets by a Black Cap in a calendar year.
Reaching this summit, however, has been anything but straightforward. Raised in Southland — a region far from New Zealand cricket’s traditional power centres — Duffy made his domestic T20 debut for Otago at just 17. Yet his international breakthrough came much later, with his New Zealand debut arriving at 26. Though he made an immediate impression in T20Is with a 4-for-33 against Pakistan, Test cricket only followed at the age of 31. In just four Tests so far, he has already shown the qualities required to lead New Zealand’s attack in the post-Southee and Boult era.
“That Southland background probably keeps you grounded,” Duffy reflected. “Even playing for Otago felt unreal growing up. To now be on the international stage and feel like you truly belong — that’s special. It probably clicked for me around this time last year, during the Sri Lanka series, when I started delivering match-winning spells. That belief stays with you.”
His rapid rise has also been rewarded on the franchise circuit. At the recent IPL mini-auction, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru snapped him up for INR 2 crore as cover for the injured Josh Hazlewood.
“It’s surreal seeing your name pop up on that auction screen,” Duffy admitted. “It’s such a strange experience, but a really cool one too. You never quite know what’s coming next. There’s a big India series, then the T20 World Cup, and plenty of time in India ahead — it’s an amazing place to play cricket.”
Before all that, Duffy will enjoy a quieter interlude, spending Christmas with his wife’s family in Te Anau and visiting his mother in Cromwell, Central Otago.
The new year, however, promises even bigger opportunities. Alongside the India tour and his IPL stint, Duffy is firmly in contention for marquee Test tours of England and Australia — destinations he views as the ultimate proving grounds.
“Those are the pinnacles,” he said. “I’ve been on a couple of England tours without playing, so to potentially go there — and to Australia as well — would be massive. Those are the moments you dream of in red-ball cricket.”
Duffy is also excited by the emergence of Zak Foulkes, another promising pacer who, despite going wicketless in Mount Maunganui, impressed with his swing and control. Still only in his early twenties, Foulkes has also earned an IPL deal, joining Chennai Super Kings.
“He’s a special talent,” Duffy said. “We forget how young he is. The workload he’s carrying already is huge, and his skill set is outstanding. He’s got years ahead of him to learn and grow, and experiences like this will only help.”
With Kane Williamson’s long-term future uncertain, New Zealand’s next generation of bowlers — led by Duffy and supported by talents like Foulkes — offers compelling reasons for optimism. For now, Duffy is embracing both the responsibility and the moment, seeing his role not as a burden, but as a genuine privilege.
