The future of Tim Southee as New Zealand‘s captain in the longest format has been questioned following a difficult series against Australia. New Zealand lost both matches, resulting in the team’s defeat in the 2-match Test series.
Missed opportunity for New Zealand
Notably, New Zealand had a significant opportunity to break their 31-year home Test win drought against Australia during the second test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Despite Australia being 34/4 and then 80/5 in their second innings while chasing 279, the visitors managed to secure victory by three wickets, sweeping the series 2-0.
A battling effort by Australia
Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey played an unbeaten innings of 98 runs and partnered with Mitchell Marsh, who scored a crucial 80 runs, in a 140-run stand. Additionally, Australian skipper Pat Cummins showcased his batting prowess by providing support to Carey, resulting in an unbeaten 60-run partnership for the eighth wicket and ultimately sealing the victory for the tourists.
Tim Southee opens up on captaincy future
After New Zealand’s defeat, Captain Southee faced scrutiny as some of his decisions drew criticism from experts and cricket enthusiasts. In response, Southee addressed speculation about his future as Black Caps captain, expressing uncertainty about leading the team during their upcoming tours to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and India. He acknowledged the need for adjustments in the team’s composition, particularly with spinners playing a crucial role in sub-continental conditions.
“We’ll see. Obviously you go to Asia, the make-up of the side changes slightly with spin becoming the main threat in that part of the world. But we’ll see when we get there. We’ll deal with this tonight and look to move forward to what’s to come,” said Southee in the post-match presser.
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Southee reflects on Australia’s dominance
Southee acknowledged Australia’s formidable presence both on home turf and abroad, emphasizing their strength as a competitive force. He lamented the missed opportunities during critical junctures of the game, emphasizing the need for sustained excellence when facing top-tier opponents.
“They’re a tough side to beat, not only in Australia, but when they travel as well. I think when you play the best you’ve got to be at your best for those periods, that little bit longer. We had moments throughout both Test matches where we could have been a little bit better at times and then things could have been slightly different,” added Southee.