Tim Southee has stepped down as Test captain of New Zealand after struggling for form and has been replaced by opening batsman Tom Latham ahead of the India series.
Experienced pacers Tim Southee and Trent Boult's absence leaves a "massive hole" in the New Zealand squad, but also provides a chance to fringe players to step up during the India tour, says stand-in-captain Tom Latham.
New Zealand made a strong start to their bid for a consolation victory in the third and final Test against England at Hamilton's Seddon Park on Saturday, reaching lunch on the opening day on 93 without loss.
Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin says New Zealand, despite the absence of the long-serving pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have quit playing the 50-over format, will pose a challenge to India.
Four New Zealand players, including Kane Williamson and Tim Southee, were given go-ahead by New Zealand Cricket to join their respective Indian Premier League teams without taking part in the home white-ball series against Sri Lanka.
pace bowlers Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner emerged from the dressing room to check out the rainy day at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Friday.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 1st Test played between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, on Friday.
Seamers Ben Sears, Nathan Smith and Will O'Rourke will play their first global tournament at the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates next month after being named in the New Zealand squad on Sunday.
India were still staring at a daunting challenge despite a much more assured performance in their second innings, trailing by 125 runs at the close with Sarfaraz Khan on 70 not out after Virat Kohli fell for the same score on the day's final ball.
New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgensen hailed Tim Southee's leadership qualities after the fast bowler claimed a five-wicket haul on Friday in his country's first Test against India in Kanpur.
Washington Sundar justified his selection with a career-best 7/59 to bowl out New Zealand for 259 on Day 1 of the second Test in Pune.
Tom Latham's first challenge as captain will be the three Tests in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai over the next three weeks, followed by hosting England for three matches at home.
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'It's obviously a great challenge that's ahead and I guess it's something to look forward to.'
The left-arm wrist spinner, who grabbed three Kiwi wickets, patted Rachin Ravindra for making a splendid hundred.
With his record-shattering spell, he also the became third Pakistani bowler to achieve 100 T20I wickets, behind Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan.
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New Zealand's Tim Southee, one of only two quicks in the top 10 of the Twenty20 bowling world rankings, believes sluggish wickets at the World Cup could work out well for seamers.
Since his comeback after an injury lay-off in August 2023, Jasprit Bumrah has been a key figure in India's success.
Washington lifted the gloom with a couple of unplayable deliveries that castled Ravindra and Tom Blundell (3) in a 10-minute spell before tea.
Meanwhile, Royal Challenger Bangalore brought in Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga as replacement for Australia's Adam Zampa. In the recent three-match T20I series against India in Sri Lanka, Hasaranga bagged a total of seven wickets, including a four-wicket haul in the final T20I.
Gus Atkinson took a hat-trick as England stayed on course for a dominant victory in the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday, reaching 378 for 5 at the close of play on Day 2 with an imposing lead of 533.
Southee is so impressed Umesh Yadav's bowling in IPL 2022, that the New Zealander is backing him to wear the India jersey again
New Zealand will take on India in a three-Test series, which pacer Mohammed Shami is set to miss. The series-opener will begin in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Jasprit Bumrah has viral; Mitchell Santner has a side strain.
On Friday, the Kiwis started off in an explosive fashion going over 10 runs per over in the powerplay but they could not capitalise in the middle overs and were restricted to a modest 153/6.
Rohit Sharma wilted under the traditional Australian tactic of mentally breaking down the opposition captains
India's pace talisman Jasprit Bumrah's absence will certainly hurt India, but the team's quality batting and spin bowling make them title contenders alongside South Africa and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
Latham also reminded his team not to lose focus on the second Test amid the revelries after winning the first match, as India has the firepower in its ranks to hit back.
The ICC Champions Trophy is set to kick off in Pakistan, marking the country's first ICC event since the 1996 World Cup.
Brook's innings was by no means chanceless -- Tom Latham and Tim Southee both missed one good chance to take a thick edge in the slips -- but he rode his luck to bring up his 10th Test half century with a six.
New Zealand captain Tim Southee said playing two Tests at Galle, known as a spinner's paradise, was always going to be challenging.
But the 32-year-old with 302 Test wickets didn't deny that it was indeed a great opportunity to gear up for the big battle against India.
Kane Williamson is a doubt for the Test series against India due to a groin injury sustained in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
India will look for the right balance as they aim for a series-levelling victory against a spunky New Zealand in the must-win second Test.
New Zealand took charge on the second day of the third Test by dismissing England for 143 and making 136/3 at close of play for an overall lead of 340.
Tim Southee has now dismissed Virat Kohli nine times across formats.
'We don't play that many three-match series, so I guess just being able to play more Test matches and hopefully more three-match series rather than two-match series.'
Kohli allegedly swore at Kane Williamson during animated celebrations after New Zealand captain's dismissal on day two of the second Test. Southee said both India and New Zealand competed hard in the series but there was no bad blood between them.
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