Record-breaker: Jacob Duffy becomes all-time leading wicket-taker
“We’ve got all these honours boards in the sheds that get updated before the start of each year, so knew it was there or thereabouts.
It all started on January 12, 2012.
A then 17-year-old Southlander by the name of Jacob Duffy took the wicket of Tim Southee.
Southee had been sent in as a pinch-hitter for the Northern Knights in the domestic T20 fixture against the Otago Volts in Hamilton.
That was Duffy’s first wicket for the Otago Volts. His second was a certain Kane Williamson as the teenager finished his debut Volts outing with three for 19 from his four overs.
Close to twelve years on Duffy is still at it and has just been celebrated as one of Otago cricket’s finest.
The former Southland Boys’ High School pupil is now Otago’s all-time leading wicket-taker.
Across all formats, the 29-year-old has taken 465 wickets toppling Stephen Boock’s time at the top, which lasted close to 30 years.
Duffy did it style with an impressive match haul of nine for 127 in a four-day Plunket Shield outing against Northern Districts in Dunedin finishing on Saturday.
“It’s a weird stat because they are across the three formats, but I’ve had a lot of messages with people reaching out, so that’s been quite cool,” Duffy told The Tribune about coming Otago’s all-time leading wicket-taker.
“We’ve got all these honours boards in the sheds that get updated before the start of each year, so I knew it was there or thereabouts.
“I actually didn’t know how big of a deal everyone was going to make of it. It was quite cool; they did a wee ceremony last night and gave me a nice bottle of wine and [brother] Ryan and his wee boy come into the sheds.”
Duffy’s longevity as a quick bowler at that level is impressive.
At 29-year-old he’s still got plenty of time still ahead of him. But to carve out a 12-year professional career where he has been a constant on the park has made him a key asset for Otago.
Duffy points to the strength and conditioning work put in as a teenager in Southland with Mark Beer in the Academy Southland programme as something that set him up well.
As well as his work with Otago trainer Adam Keen when he first arrived at the Volts.
“Having those guys early in your career set a good strength and conditioning base. As I’ve got older I’ve appreciated that more and more.
“With New Zealand cricket, a lot of my opportunities have come from guys breaking down and that’s how you get your opportunities. I have always been there and available.
“Keeno has a great saying that the best ability is availability and that is what I’ve prided myself on, staying fit and on the park.
“I’m probably not the best athlete but I’d like to think I’m resilient.”
Along the way in Duffy’s journey to becoming Otago’s all-time leading wicket-taker, he’s had to watch many of his teammates depart for other associations.
Otago has had some struggles on the field prompting some players to look elsewhere.
Duffy himself has never given a move a lot of thought though. He can only wonder where the association might be if others decided to stay.
“It’s the biggest bugbear of mine. It’s frustrating, the dudes think for whatever reason they have to leave.
“We’ve lost the likes of Nick Kelly, Mike Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Michael Rae, [Michael] Rippon - if you still have those guys in your team you are fighting for titles.
“They do that, but I guess my base is here. My family and Natasha and her family. I’ve never seen any potential gain in me leaving.
“People go for opportunities, but I’ve always had the opportunities, and I’ve always had good coaching here.
“Honestly, I can’t see myself living anywhere else as well. I hate Christchurch, and I don’t like big cities like Wellington and Auckland, and Napier and Tauranga are too far away, so why would I?
“I love the South too much.”
Duffy hasn’t just crawled to the record-breaking Otago cricket mark. He’s arguably in career-best form.
“It’s coming out really well. My own personal bowling has been bloody good.”
“I feel like I’ve made a jump in the past couple of years. I’ve pushed to a new level and I’m actually bowling a little bit faster now, and I’m still holding my action and getting a bit of swing. Things have been going well in that regard, I’m definitely making improvements.”
Duffy points to his stint with the Black Caps in Dubai in August and some of the work he did with bowling coach Shane Jurgensen as a moment which helped lift his game.
“[He] gave me a couple of wee things to do with my run up and my action. A coach normally offers you something and it feels quite uncomfortable, but it immediately clicked and I saw immediate results.
“I’m running in on my toes like he said, and my front arm is in a different spot now and it’s worked beautifully, now the ball is coming out a bit heavier and I’m still holding my shape.”
Duffy has spent much of the second half of his career on the fringes of the Black Caps. He’s played three One Day Internationals and 10 T20 internationals since December 2020.
The right-arm swing bowler became the first Southlander to debut for New Zealand in international cricket since Jeff Wilson in 1993.
Duffy remains eager for more time at that level.
“Very much so. I’m trying to enjoy my cricket as much as I can for Otago and whatever opportunities come, they come.
“I still have those conversations and I was in the squad earlier this year and was in the setup, so I think I’m still there or thereabouts.
“I’m just biding my time and waiting for my opportunity, I guess. I definitely still want to get to that level.”