Bengaluru. After the great Richard Hadlee, Tim Southee will become the second New Zealand bowler to complete the figure of 400 wickets in Test cricket. The former New Zealand captain is still 18 wickets away. The first match of the three-match series against India is going to be played in Bengaluru where Saudi had taken 7 wickets in an innings in 2012. We had a special conversation with Tim Southee on many important issues related to cricket. Tim Southee has left the captaincy of New Zealand just a week ago.
Your team has not won any Test in India since 1988 and much less has won a series. In such a situation, how difficult a challenge is this?
See, we are very excited about this series. It is true that touring India has always been difficult. As you said, we have not had much success here in the past. It is obvious that the hosts are a very strong team and they have dominance not only in the Test format but in every format of cricket. This is definitely a difficult challenge because as a Kiwi cricketer, I can say that the pitches here are completely different from our country. But, for the last few months we have been on tour in the sub-continent and are getting used to the pitches and weather here.
Kane Williamson, one of the four most powerful batsmen in Test cricket, is in your team but is not currently associated with the team. Virat Kohli’s game in recent years has not been as dominant and disruptive as Joe Root’s. Which is discussed a lot. How do you see the whole issue?
Look, Kohli is an extraordinary player. His record testifies to this. He has taken the level of his game so high that even if there is a slight drop in it, people start talking. He has seen such things many times in his career and has made a great comeback and that is why he is a part of the Fab Four. Kohli plays well not only in Test but in all three formats of cricket. Root has dominated Test cricket in recent years and Williamson is not far behind. As a bowler, I always like to challenge myself against the best players and you always feel a thrill in front of a great player like Kohli.
What is the definition of leadership according to you?
The definition of leadership varies in different environments and different countries. There are different types of leadership also. For us, leadership means knowing and understanding people better. And after that one has to get the best game from them.
What is your opinion about Indian captain Rohit Sharma. How do you see his leadership?
When you see Rohit, you understand that he is a very calm type of captain. I have played with him in Mumbai Indians. He understands the nuances of the game very well. Certainly he has the respect of his fellow players. In many ways, he looks completely different from a captain like Kohli, for example. Kohli is very passionate and he also enjoys the same respect from his fellow players. In my opinion, you have to find your own style because there is no right or wrong way to lead. You have to create such coordination that you can get the best out of your teammates.
If you would have visited India in the initial phase of your career, you would have thought that this is a country of spinners, but now even three fast bowlers can play on Indian pitches. How do you see this change especially considering that Jasprit Bumrah is the leader of this team’s attack?
At present, India has not one or two but three excellent spinners and the team’s fast bowling attack is also amazing. Bumrah, Shami and Mohammed Siraj have shown brilliant performance not only on Indian pitches but in every ground of the world. Just look at IPL where you always see a new emerging fast bowler who soon makes it to international cricket. But, the current trio is very experienced and brilliant and Bumrah seems to be continuously improving. Even though Shami is not playing at the moment, he is also a very good bowler. It will definitely be a difficult challenge for us to play against such a bowling attack because apart from three spinners, you also have to deal with three excellent fast bowlers.
In the end, I would like to ask whether there is anything about India that you dislike and we can make some improvements in it?
Traffic System! (After this the reporter and the Saudi laugh loudly for a few moments). However, if we talk seriously, I have no complaints with this country. It is our good fortune that whenever we go to play cricket in different grounds here, people love cricket so much in the packed stadiums. This is a wonderful experience.
FIRST PUBLISHED : October 15, 2024, 7:13 PM IST