Southee defends sparing use of Phillips

Tim Southee has defended his decision not to use offspinner Glenn Phillips earlier on in another frustrating test loss to Australia.

New Zealand were again left to wonder what might have been, botching an opportunity to snap their long home test drought against Australia.

Phillips, who has been impressive with the ball this home summer, was given just one over before lunch. He was a handful in the second session, holding down an end for New Zealand and causing problems for the Australia batters.

That allowed skipper Southee to use his quicks in short spells from the other end with the older ball as New Zealand desperately hunted a breakthrough.

Phillips was a real threat, despite finishing wicketless from his 12 overs in the second innings.

Southee stood by his decision not to turn to him earlier in the first session, when he could have been a handful and stemmed the flow of runs.

Australia scored at a quick rate in the first session through Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey. As a side, they added 97 runs in the 19-over session at 5.11 per over.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but the amount of times we went past the bat in that first session we felt seam was the option,” Southee said.

“We created a few chances through that first session. I think we felt that seam was the right move in that first session.”

New Zealand were left to rue a costly dropped catch to start the day. Rachin Ravindra put down Marsh on 28 at backward point off the first ball of Southee’s opening over.

They weren’t helped either, effectively only operating with four bowlers in the second innings. Scott Kuggeleijn, the fourth seamer, bowled just three overs yesterday, struggling to make an impact, while also appearing to battle through a foot issue.

Kuggeleijn bowled just nine overs in the test and despite contributing a handy 44 with the bat in the second dig, offered little with the ball. At 32, New Zealand would probably be wiser to look at other younger options moving forward.