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Tim Southee has led the New Zealand attack superbly in the past year, snaring 17 wickets in his last three tests.
Tim Southee will devour Christmas lunch with New Zealand team-mates and young families at Mt Maunganui with his eyes on the prize. And, potentially, a more significant one for his team next year at the home of cricket. New Zealand’s senior bowler will mark his run-up at Bay Oval on Saturday, should captain Kane Williamson win the toss, requiring four Pakistan wickets to join Sir Richard Hadlee and Daniel Vettori in the 300-club. At 32, fresh from the longest break of his career during the Covid hiatus, Southee sprinted towards the milestone as the Black Caps swept West Indies 2-0. Since he, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Kyle Jamieson became a test pace quartet against India at Christchurch in February, Southee snared 17 wickets in his last three tests at 17.58.