Tim Southee may not lead New Zealand in all Tests on the tour of India and Sri Lanka. Who will lead New Zealand in his absence when Kane Williamson already stepped down?
The New Zealand cricket team are all set for an extended tour to the sub-continent as they are slated to play six Tests between 9 September and 5 November in India and Sri Lanka. First, they will play Afghanistan at Greater Noida for a one-off Test before travelling to Sri Lanka for a two-match series.
Then, the Kiwis will embark on their toughest tour yet when they face team India for three Tests. This set of games will test a competitive-looking New Zealand side who will face conditions nothing like what they get at home. They are sure to face some challenges, and it starts with the team combination.
Skipper Tim Southee not a sure starter in every game
The visiting Kiwi team will be led by their most experienced pacer, Tim Southee, but if he plays all six Tests is a big question. The first reason is the types of surfaces they get in India as well as in Sri Lanka. The pacers will get very little out of these pitches, and New Zealand would be more inclined to include a lot of spinners.
Tim Southee, typically a bowler who relies on swing rather than pace, may not get much purchase out of the surfaces. Another factor to consider is Tim Southee’s workload. At 35, he isn’t getting any younger, and subcontinent conditions do take a toll on the body. Also, he didn’t have a particularly good time with the ball in New Zealand’s last set of home games. Southee could pick just six wickets in four Tests against South Africa and Australia.
Hence, New Zealand might think of rotating the pace attack that also includes fast bowlers like Will O’Rourke, Matt Henry, and Ben Sears. This would mean fielding two out of the four pacers depending on the condition and having Southee play important games.
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Tom Latham ideal candidate to lead the side
This New Zealand side does possess some good leadership options. They have Kane Williamson, who has been a long-time captain for them before relinquishing the role. Mitchell Santner, who has led the side in white-ball cricket, and opener Tom Latham, who has stepped in the absence of Williamson in the past, also make for good options.
If Southee does have to sit out for a few games, Tom Latham could be the one at the helm. He is their premier opening batter with good experience playing in Asian conditions and is a certainty to play all the Tests.
Spin options for New Zealand
Looking at their squad, New Zealand have a dearth of spin options. Ajaz Patel, who took all 10 wickets in an innings last time around in Mumbai, finds a place. As do all-rounders Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell. Both Bracewell and Santner are returning to the Test team after a while and look set to play a key role in New Zealand’s tour of Asia.
Two of their regulars in all formats, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, are the other spin options, and they look like a certainty in the middle order. With a good bunch of pacers and lots of spin bowlers to rely on, New Zealand does seem to have a decent-looking bowling attack at their disposal.
New Zealand’s squad: Tim Southee (C), Tom Blundell (WK), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (vc), Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Kane Williamson, and Will Young.
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