Two Tests Versus England Good Enough Preparation For The WTC Final Against India: Tim Southee
Published - 22 May 2021, 12:37 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:46 AM
New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has said that the upcoming two-Test series against England will be great preparation for the Kiwis as they take on India in the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) from June 18 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England.
New Zealand is playing two Tests against England at the Lord’s (Jun 2-6) and Birmingham (Jun 10-14). New Zealand feels that they will have the upper hand when it comes to conditions and experience in the swinging and seaming conditions and Tim Southee feels that the England Test series will provide the Black Caps with just the right preparation.
Great To Have Those Matches (Tests Against England) Leading To The Final: Tim Southee
Though New Zealand might not treat the two Test matches against England as warmup games for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against India in Southampton, Southee, who is also one of the senior-most Kiwi players, said that having these matches are great leading to the final.
“Anytime you get to play a Test match for New Zealand, it’s an amazing opportunity and I don’t think you treat them as warm-ups. Our focus is first and foremost on the two-match series against England. but great to have those matches leading to the final. So for us, it’s great preparation for that final but we are looking at two-match series against a quality English side in their conditions,” Southee said.
Southee also didn’t feel that three Tests in three weeks will be much of a workload after a welcome break for many.
“It’s exciting to play three Test matches in a short space of time. It is something that the team doesn’t get to do that often. We’ve come off a bit of a break, which has been nice, and (we have) been able to get some conditioning into our bodies. Now, it’s just getting our loads to a point over the coming weeks so that we can rock on to those three Test matches,” Southee added.
Southee also said that training in quarantine at Southampton provides New Zealand with an upper hand as the players will be comfortable being in the dressing room for the final after being here for the practice, unlike India who will be here for the first time directly for the final.
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ICC World Test Championship (WTC) India National Cricket Team New Zealand National Cricket Team Tim Southee
