Southee pleased to show form
TIM Southee should take a seat on the pine more often.
The experienced Black Caps seamer was overlooked for the last four onedayinternationals against India following a prolonged form slump in the format.
But he returned to the side for the opening twenty20 encounter against the touring team on Wednesday night and the break appeared to have sparked some dormant hunger in the 30yearold rightarmer.
Southee did not put it quite like that when asked whether he felt he had a point to prove to the selectors.
‘‘Not at all. Any time you play you are going out there to do your job and your role for the team,’’ Southee responded.
‘‘I felt like I’ve been bowling really well in the nets and for me it was about [transferring] that form in the nets to the game.
‘‘It is a bit different when you’ve been sitting on the sidelines for a while. To go out there was exciting — a few nerves but it was a nice way to start a big series.’’
Wicketkeeperbatsman Tim Seifert laid the ground work for an 80run win with a tremendous knock of 84 from 43 balls. The Black Caps posted 219 for six and India’s chase unravelled.
Southee had a plenty to do with that. He got the ball to swing in his opening stint and his haul of three for 17 from four overs will have boosted his confidence before game two at Eden Park tonight.
He is a much more dangerous prospect when the ball is hooping about. The key for Southee will be to bowl just as well when the atmosphere or pitch is not offering much assistance.
While he will be hurting having been overlooked recently, he is almost certainly going to be part of the World Cup campaign and the Black Caps will need to find a way to keep their most experienced bowler motivated.
He was overlooked for the first two tests against Pakistan in the UAE late last year but played an important role in the third test to help clinch the series victory.
With Matt Henry impressing in the fifth ODI against India, Southee’s spot in the ODI starting XI is no longer guaranteed.
He has much to play for in the next two T20s and the series against Bangladesh.
‘‘There were a number of guys that needed game time [during the ODI series] and I know I hadn’t been at my best with the white ball for a while.
‘‘It is never nice missing out but you’ve just got to make the most of opportunities when you get them.
‘‘It has been the lack of wickets,’’ which has concerned the selectors, Southee said.
‘‘But there have been times in the last year or so when I’ve thought I’ve bowled extremely well but haven’t got wickets.
‘‘You are always looking at ways to get better and ways to try and improve as a cricketer.’’
Eden Park is soldout so there will be a big crowd watching. The famously short boundaries will not help the bowling attacks but Southee is looking forward to the occasion.
‘‘It will probably be the first time Eden Park has been soldout since the 2015 World Cup, so it doesn’t happen too often.’’
WELLINGTON: New Zealand Cricket and Westpac Stadium have apologised for removing a banner promoting sexual consent during Wednesday night’s Twenty20 international clash between the Black Caps and India.
The banner, which read ‘‘No means no’’, was directed at Black Caps allrounder Scott Kuggeleijn, who was found not guilty of rape in a trial in 2017.
During the trial, the 27yearold admitted the woman involved had said she didn’t want to have sex with him. The Northern Districts player later texted her the day after the incident to apologise.
His inclusion in the Black Caps — yesterday was his second Twenty20 international — has received criticism from many quarters, and an attempt to bring a banner into the stadium to publicise the issue of sexual consent was taken away by Westpac Stadium security.
The woman with the banner told Stuff that security tried to confiscate the sign, but received an apology from the stadium yesterday.
New Zealand Cricket public affairs manager Richard Boock said that the decision to remove the banner — made in conjunction with the staff at the stadium — was a mistake. ‘‘We agree the course of action taken was an overreaction and unnecessary, and that the message certainly wasn’t offensive.
‘‘NZC has a venue policy that does not allow the targeting of players — but policies are guidelines; they’re not written in stone, and we should have shown better judgement and exercised more discretion,’’ Mr Boock said.
‘‘We apologise unreservedly and will be discussing this in our debrief with a view to avoiding similar mistakes in the future."
Kuggeleijn contributed 20 runs from seven balls in the Black Caps’ record 80run win, but struggled with the ball, going for 34 from his two overs.