Janakpur Bolts have announced the signing of 34-year old Kiwi all-rounder Jimmy Neesham.
Neesham has represented the New Zealand senior ODI side in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, and the ODI Cricket World Cup in 2019 where he was entrusted with the bat during the Super Over and scored 13 off 5 balls including a huge six off Jofra Archer however was on the non-striker’s end on the last ball when Guptill was run out when coming back for a second and ended up finishing as runners-up.Neesham coincidentally recorded his career best 97* against Pakistan in the same tournament. His 2023 ODI World Cup stint wasn’t as good as the previous one having only played 3 games throughout the tournament as they crashed out in the semis.
Not only in the ODI setup, Neesham has been a key figure in the shorter format of the game for the Blackcaps’ senior side earning 79 caps while having represented them at three separate World Cups (2021/22, 2022/23, and 2024). He has scored 944 runs(12th most by any New Zealand player) in T20Is with an stonishing strike rate of 158.69 which is the best strike rate among the top 20 run getters in this format for the Kiwis.
He has been ever present in the domestic circuit as well, as he has played in the Indian Premier League, Carribean Premier League, Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League, Bangladesh Premier League, Abu Dhabi T10, Global T20, County Championship DIvision One, SA20, The Ford Trophy, and The Hundred.
Janakpur Bolts now look the major favorites early on in the signing season as Neesham brings both experience and talent in both the batting and bowling for the Bolts.