Former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee believes the Black Caps’ triumph in the Tri-Nation Series against hosts Pakistan and South Africa will provide a significant boost ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.
New Zealand remained unbeaten throughout the series and secured victory in the final, defeating Pakistan by five wickets. Southee praised the team’s performance, highlighting the contributions of both experienced players and emerging talents.
“The way the team have played, different guys have stepped up,” Southee told the ICC in an exclusive interview. “It’s a good mix between some experienced guys and some exciting young players with a lot of potential. The experience of this Tri-Nation Series is only going to stand them in good stead for the tournament.
“So, taking some momentum into the tournament and being accustomed to those conditions, it’s only going to be a good thing,” he added.
New Zealand will be aiming for their first Champions Trophy title since 2000. However, Southee acknowledged the team’s pace attack lacks experience in the absence of himself and Trent Boult.
Despite this, he expressed confidence in young fast bowlers Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith, backing them to step up at this crucial stage.
“It’s something different not having Trent and myself at an ICC event but at the same time, it’s exciting. These events are great to be a part of and it’s in front of these guys now. I’m very excited to see how they go,” Southee said.
“Will O’Rourke, in the Test game, we’ve seen what he can do. He’s still so young but he’s got all the attributes that are going to set him up for a lot of success in international cricket. I’m looking forward to watching him in his first ICC event. Nathan Smith has a real confidence about him and believes in himself, which I think you need at this level,” he added.
The former pacer also backed experienced players such as Kane Williamson and captain Mitchell Santner to play crucial roles in New Zealand’s campaign.
“Kane is in good form, it’s nice to see him with a couple of scores. He’s class. He’s not played a lot of one-day cricket for the last few years but to see him come back and have two significant contributions is what we’re used to seeing. But it’s also pleasing for me now as a fan of the Black Caps,” he said.
“When he is in the middle, it comes with experience and the way he plays, he just looks in control the whole time. Mitch has done a great job as captain.
It’s still reasonably new to him but I experienced a bit of his captaincy towards the end of my career. He’s very calm, you see that in the way he plays his cricket.
“He thinks about the game well, and I think he looks to lead with his performances across all three areas. He’s one of the best fielders, an unbelievably skilled bowler, and a more than useful batter, so I’m sure he’ll be looking to lead in all those three areas,” he added.
Southee, who has been a key figure in New Zealand’s previous ICC campaigns, expressed confidence in the current squad, believing they have the potential to replicate their 2000 success.
“If you look at the track record of New Zealand in ICC events, they are always there or thereabouts. In a tournament like the Champions Trophy, if you get on a bit of a roll, anything can happen.
I’d love to see the Black Caps there and hopefully lifting the trophy at the end,” he concluded.
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