Tim Southee is delighted with his show in Wellington in his comeback match against India but admitted that he has not been at his best with the white-ball for a while.
On Wednesday (6th February), New Zealand handed India their worst ever T20I defeat in terms of runs -80 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
Southee, who was sidelined of the recent one-day series against India, returned to Black Caps squad with a bang, wreaking havoc on the Men in Blue by taking three wickets in four overs while giving away just 17 runs.
The right-arm seamer picked the all-important wicket of Rohit Sharma with a short ball to help the hosts to register an easy win over the tourists in Wellington.
It was Southee’s first impressive show in the limited overs cricket since last January and his Wellington show sent down a much-needed memo to the national selectors before the World Cup 2019.
Southee told reporters after the first T20I against India, “A number of guys that needed game time and I know I haven't been at my best with the white-ball for a while. It's never nice missing out but just have to make the most of opportunities when you get them.”
He continued, “There's been times in the last year or so I've felt I've bowled extremely well at times and haven't got wickets or supported [Trent] Boulty at the other end. So, I guess you're always looking at ways to get better, always looking at ways to try and improve as a cricketer. So, it's just always [about being] involved in the game and look in a different way so you can get better and looking back to when you were at your best and how you were operating then.”
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old said he had spent a lot of time at nets and bowled well and the seamer said he just brought that form into the game against India.
Southee added, “Any time you get a chance to play, you're going out there to do your job and your role for the team. It was no different last night. Felt like I've been bowling really well in the nets and for me, it was just about transforming that form from the nets to the game. Different when you've been sitting on the sidelines for a while and to go out there, there's obvious excitement, few nerves, but an obviously nice way to start the series. Sometimes in T20 cricket, it can feel really nice and your figures can look really different. It was just a part of almost the perfect puzzle last night, the perfect team performance.”
With the Wellington win, New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the T20I series, and Southee hopes for a similar performance against India in the second T20I at Eden Park to win the series on Friday.
Southee signed off by saying, “Last night was a good atmosphere and I think tomorrow will be an amazing atmosphere too. I think it'll probably be the first time Eden Park's been sold out since the 2015 World Cup. Doesn't happen too often when we play there. Will be a very noisy crowd and one the guys are very much looking forward to.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
