"I've felt okay at times" - Tim Southee about his recent bowling performance

New Zealand player Tim Southee practised alone in the middle of Hagley Oval on Wednesday whereas other New Zealand players trained in the nets out the back. However, both Tim Southee and his mate Kane Williamson are all set to play their 100th Tests together. But for Southee, it doesn’t feel as celebratory as it does for Williamson as well.

However, New Zealand are under pressure, as they are 1-0 down in the two-match Test series, and former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor has criticised Southee and the team as well. Although it has not been as sharp or as pointed towards someone in the media have suggested. But Tim Southee is well aware of his recent Test records.

“You always want to be performing at your best and I think there’s no hiding from the fact that the currency we deal in as a bowler is wickets, and the last three Test matches I haven’t got the wickets I would have liked,” Tim Southee said on Thursday.

“I’d always like more wickets” – Tim Southee

“I still feel like there’s more to it. There’s roles within that as well. I have probably not been where I should be as the most experienced bowler seamer the side. But like everyone, each week you’re trying to get better. Each week you’re trying to go out and put your best foot forward. Prepare as well as you can to give yourself the best chance and that’s the same over the last couple of days. I’ve done that.”

“But there’s no hiding from the fact that the last couple of Test matches have been disappointing. I know that. I’d always like more wickets. And hopefully, there’s some to come,” he further added.

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However, Tim Southee didn’t opt to bowl in the nets on Wednesday and ahead of his solo running session, he worked hard on his own on a practice pitch in the centre under the guidance of stand-in bowling coach Kyle Mills as well. And, Southee was hopeful about his recent bowling efforts, but he also said that he and Mills had identified a couple of areas to improve as well.

“I’ve felt okay at times,” Southee said. “Sometimes you feel good and you don’t get the wickets. Sometimes you feel not so good and you actually pick up a few wickets. So I think it’s just about trusting your game. Trusting what you do. I’ve worked hard over the last couple of days alongside Kyle Mills on a couple of things. So it’d be great to finish the season strong. Just a couple of minor things that we’ve been looking at over the last couple of days. You don’t always get the wickets you feel like you should but hopefully I can contribute to what should be a good week.”

“I think no one’s getting any younger” Tim Southee

He also becomes the first bowler to play 100 international matches in each format this week. It is a remarkable achievement. He has shown an amazing ability to adapt and played across 16 years at the top of the game. He also shared that his desire to evolve is still there as well.

“I think no one’s getting any younger,” Tim Southee concluded. “But the desire to train, to work hard away from the game is still there. It’s an absolute honour to do what we do and represent our country and I still love that. I still wake up every morning hoping to go out there and do people proud and put performances on the board. So as long as that’s still there and you can come live to those standards then…”