A character on an off the field, Jimmy Neesham made his debut for the BLACKCAPS in 2012 against South Africa and his since played all three formats.
An aggressive all-rounder, the Auckland Grammar product moved south to play for the Otago Volts and quickly caught selector’s eyes.
He announced himself to the world hitting a 127 on Test debut at the Basin Reserve against India – the highest score by a number eight on Test debut - meanwhile occupying the best seat in the house at the opposite end as Brendon McCullum hit his historic triple century.
Neesham fell out of BLACKCAPS favour during the 2014/15 season and missed out on selection for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.
Neesham made the move to the Wellington Firebirds for the 2018/19 season, and recaptured his previous form under the tutelage of former BLACKCAPS player and selector Bruce Edgar.
He became a key member of one of the most successful Wellington teams in recent history, lifting the 2018/19 Ford Trophy, back-to-back Dream11 Super Smash titles in 2019/20 and 2020/21 and lifted the 2019/20 Plunket Shield, Wellington’s first in 16 years.
Neesham’s domestic form caught the eye of the BLACKCAPS selectors and he returned to the side in an ODI against Sri Lanka in January 2019. He was subsequently selected in the BLACKCAPS squad for the 2019 ICC World Cup in England where he was a key member of the squad that reached the final, taking 15 wickets including a best of 5-31, hitting an unbeaten 97 against Pakistan in the pool stage and batting heroically in the Super Over in the Final.
Neesham's all-round ability makes him a threat with both bat and ball, attributes he has displayed to devastating effect at times.
During his return ODI series against Sri Lanka in 2018 he struck five sixes off an over as part of a mammoth total and has continued as a regular in both white ball sides, featuring in the 2020 and 2021 ICC T20 World Cups, helping the side reach the final against Australia in 2020.
Neesham also plies his trade in major white ball leagues around the world, including for multiple franchises in the IPL, Welsh Fire in The Hundred, Hobart Hurricanes in the Big bash, and Pretoria Capitals in the SA20.
