New Zealand’s cricket team captain, Tim Southee, is using his time away from the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) to strategize for their upcoming Test series against India in October. This three-match series presents a significant challenge, as New Zealand has never secured a Test series win on Indian soil.
Unique challenge: India vs New Zealand Test series
Tim Southee acknowledges the daunting task ahead. He highlights the unfamiliar conditions – extreme heat, spin-friendly pitches, and the prevalence of reverse swing – as major hurdles for the New Zealand team accustomed to pace and bounce at home.
IPL as Preparation Ground
Despite the difficulties, Tim Southee sees the upcoming series as an exciting opportunity to test his team against the best. He believes the experience of New Zealand players currently participating in the IPL, such as Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, and Daryl Mitchell, will be invaluable in acclimatizing to the Indian conditions.
Kane Williamson and the injured Devon Conway have also had prior IPL exposure.
“I guess players from around the world are able to experience playing in subcontinent conditions and particularly Indian conditions when they go and play the IPL. I think the IPL has been massive for cricket in general,” said Tim Southee to The Telegraph.
Learning from IPL
Tim Southee acknowledges the significant role the IPL plays in preparing players for subcontinental conditions. He commends the league for providing a platform for international players to gain invaluable experience playing alongside and against each other in India.
He believes this exposure proved beneficial for several teams during the recent ODI World Cup.
Tim Southee said:
“I think you’re seeing the talented cricketers coming through India. There’s always guys just having breakout years, youngsters having the opportunity to play alongside overseas players, overseas players getting the chance to play alongside other overseas players you never thought you’d play with… Gaining the experience of playing in India.“
“We saw its utility through the ODI World Cup. Sides which had a number of guys that have had a number of years in the IPL benefited from their experiences in those conditions. It’s a good thing for people to be able to gain those experiences in that part of the world.”
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Balancing Act: Australia vs. India
When asked to compare the challenges of facing Australia in Australia and India in India, Tim Southee emphasizes the desire to compete against the best. He acknowledges his lack of success in both countries historically and stresses the need for exceptional performances to achieve victory on these foreign grounds.
Tim Southee’s focus is clear: utilizing the knowledge gained through the IPL and leveraging the experience of his players to overcome the unique challenges India presents. Their October series promises to be a thrilling display of cricketing skill and determination.
