Mike Hesson: Former Black Caps coach on Tim Southee giving up the team captaincy

One former Black Caps coach has expressed some confusion as Tim Southee relinquished his team captaincy. 

Tom Latham has taken the reins after Southee ended his tenure as skipper with six wins, six losses and two draws through just under two years at the helm.

Mike Hesson says some aspects of his resignation have raised a few questions.

"I can't think of any side in the world where you would name a captain on a game-by-game basis. You're playing for your nation - I thought the transition period made good sense, but when he was named captain, it sort of made life difficult for Tim."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Tim Soudy has stood down as the black Caps Test
captain following a recent slump in form and a series
lost to Sri Lanka. Saudi will be replaced by opening
batsman Tom Latham starting against India this month. Mike Hessen
is the black Caps former head coach and is with
us this evening. Good evening to join, Nice to be

(00:20):
speaking with you. Did he jump or was he pushed?

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Team Tim is very much the ultimate team man really,
so if he felt that the team is better off,
he would have he would have left his own volition.
But I'm I'm a bit confused as to why he
would need to do that, to be honest.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
Oh okay, why's that.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
Look? I think you know. At the start of the series,
Tim was sort of told that he was unlikely to
play in all the games, and that was relatively public,
so heading it the sort of, you know, six games
away from home, and then he was named captain again.
I can't think of any other side in the world
where you would name a captain on a game by games,

(01:01):
you know, when you're playing for your nation. So I
thought the transition period made good sense, but then when
he was named captain, it's sort of made life pretty
difficult for Tim.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, why would that have happened?

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Look, I'm unsure. I mean, obviously that that difficult conversation
had already taken place around the fact that, hey, we're
probably going to transition you, you know, towards the end
of your career and obviously still a very important member
of the side. But there are other guys who are
also competing for spot, So that conversation already took place,
so and Tim Tim tom Lathan was obviously ready to go.

(01:36):
So I'm not sure why they didn't take it one
set through the really at that time, just to make
it easier on Tim.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Yeah, do you think that would have made it easier
if they said, you know what we're gonna We're going
to bring you on the tour, but we're going to
have Tom Latham in the cap and see from the
word go, so that we don't have to stand you
down from it part way through.

Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well, I think it's it's pretty fear that to understand
the terms not at the top of this game. You know,
he's been at SENTA for seventeen years, so he's more
towards the end and the start, So he would be
the first to understand, Hey, if I'm not going to
play every game, then how can I be captain? You know,
So it makes a lot more sense to someone who's
guaranteed to play everything likes of Tom to be a captain.

(02:15):
Then he doesn't have to set him those difficult selection meetings.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
Do you think he's good enough to make the playing
eleven for the first tast against India?

Speaker 2 (02:24):
I think in Bangalore when the ball swings, I think
he hit be serious consideration, but certainly not a guarantee.
I think Matt Henry has fighted his time and deserves,
absolutely deserves that opportunity. I mean, he's been sitting behind
bolts out there in Wagoner for many years and he
deserves that opportunity. So I think he's a showing if

(02:45):
well O'Rourke is fully fat there, I think he provides
that point of difference. And you know, whether they go
with three receivers in Bangalore when there's a bit of
rain rounds remains to be seen. But certainly not a guarantee,
but should certainly be in the conversation.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
You know, Tim tim Sowdy is a bona fide legend
of New Zealand. Cricket. You know, what he has achieved
over the last sixteen or seventeen years is extraordinary. Do
you feel, Mike, that he has been let down by
the way this is all played out?

Speaker 2 (03:15):
Well, I'm just a bit confused. As as I said before,
you know how he was put in this position to
being controlled of destiny. Really, I think it just he
was on a bit of hiding for nothing in all honesty,
and I don't think he I don't think that situation
should have arose.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
It's really interesting. Thanks Mike. Yeah, we appreciate that. That's
Mike Kesen, the former Black Caps captain. For more from
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