Jason Pine: Relinquishing the captaincy is a good thing for Tim Southee

The change in Black Caps test captaincy obviously had to happen. 

Whether it was the captaincy that affected his performances or not, and I actually think it played a big part, the fact is Tim Southee wasn't doing enough to guarantee his place in the team. 

That becomes a real issue when you're the captain, even more so on the sub-continent. 

More often than not, you play just two seamers in tests over there, so you need to pick your quickest bowler and your best bowler.  

Tim Southee is neither of these. 

The omission of Matt Henry can only be explained by Southee being captain/ 

The last time Henry bowled in test cricket was against Australia at the end of our home summer. He took 5-70 and 3-36 in the first test, then 7-67 and 2-94 in the second. 

17 wickets at 15.71, easily our best bowler, and probably the best across both sides in the series.  

Tim Southee took 4 wickets in those two tests at an average of 61. 

Henry also contributed some handy runs, averaging over 25 across the series, Southee averaged 8.5. 

But Matt Henry was the man left out of these Sri Lankan tests because Tim Southee was captain. Imagine taking 7 for 67 in an innings against Australia, then being dropped for the next test. 

Thankfully, that'll be one of the first things put right by the captaincy change – it'll ensure Matt Henry plays against India. 

The question now is whether Tim Southee even goes on that tour. 

I don't think he should. 

He should stay back here, get out of the limelight, freshen up, and get ready to play the three tests against England before Christmas.  

He should definitely play those tests, we'll have a seam-heavy attack, and Southee still earns his place in a 4-prong attack with Matt Henry, Will O'Rourke, and probably Ben Sears. I don't know the current status of Kyle Jamieson, hopefully we'll see him again this summer. 

But Southee plays those tests. 

And I think that might be a good way to bring the curtain down on what has been, by every measure, a terrific career. 382 test wickets, only Sir Richard Hadlee has more for us than that. 

Wouldn't it be great to see him join the exclusive 400-wicket club? 

18 more wickets might be a stretch in three tests, but who knows? Without having to worry about anything other than bowling, and on reasonably seam-friendly wickets at Hagley, the Basin, and Seddon Park, he could do it. 

I honestly think relinquishing the captaincy is a good thing for Tim Southee. 

He is one of our cricketing greats, he deserves to go out on top.  

The longer the captaincy saga played out, the more his legacy was being tainted. Now he's got the chance for a swansong at home and to enjoy a fitting end to a great, great career. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk ZEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Reading between the lines of Tom Latham's diplomacy there, it's
clear he was disappointed to be overlooked the first time
when came Williamson relinquished the Test captaincy the back end
of twenty twenty two. I think most people thought Tom
Latham was the obvious choice, having done it before and
being a guy who in all conditions, in all countries

(00:34):
and every Test match is pretty much a first choice player.
If he's Fitty plays Tom Latham, he's become one of
our best Test openers. And yes he's gone through a
little bit of a rocky time recently with the bat
as well, but I think the fact remains that he
is part of our best Test eleven. The change of

(00:56):
testaver had to happen, obviously, and whether it was the
captain c that affected his performances or not, and I
actually think it did play a big part. The fact
is Tim Soudy isn't doing enough to guarantee his place
in the team and that becomes a real issue when
you are captain, even more so on the subcontinent. And
I've said this a lot of times in the last

(01:16):
couple of weeks. More often than not, you play just
two seamers in Test matches in the Subcontinent, your quickest
and your best, and Tim Soudy isn't either of those
two things. At the moment. The o mission of Matt
Henry can only be explained by Tim Southey being captain,
because the last time Matt Henry bold and Test cricket

(01:38):
was against Australia at the end of our home summer.
He took five for seventy and three for thirty six
on the first Test, seven for sixty seven and two
for ninety four in the second, seventeen wickets at fifteen's
easily our best bowler and probably the best across both
sides in the series. Tim Soudy four wickets in those
two Tests at an average of sixty one, and Matt

(02:00):
Henry also contributed some handy runs, averaging over twenty five
Tim Southy eight and a half. But it was Matt
Henry who was left out of the Sri Lankan Tests
because Tim Southy was captain. Imagine taking seven for sixty
seven against Australia and then being dropped for the next Test,
albeit in very different conditions. Well, thankfully that will be

(02:22):
one of the first things put right. You'd have to
think by this captaincy change, it'll ensure that Matt Henry
plays against India. The question now is whether Tim Southy
even goes on that tour, and a large part of
me thinks he shouldn't. He should stay back here, get
out of the limelight, freshen up and get ready to
play the three Tests against England before Christmas, because he

(02:45):
should definitely play. In those tests. Tim Southey will have
a seam heavy attack and he is still part of
a four pronged pace attack. Our best four Matt Henry, obviously,
Will O'Rourke, Tim Southy and probably Ben Sears. I don't
know the current status of Kyle Jamison. Hopefully we'll see
him again this summer. But Tim Southey plays those two matches,

(03:07):
and I really think that might be quite a good
way to bring the curtain down on what has been
by every measure, pretty much a terrific career three hundred
and eighty two Test wickets. Only Sir Richard Hadley has
more than that for us. Wouldn't it be great to
see Tim Southey join that very exclusive four hundred Test

(03:28):
wicket club. Eighteen more wickets might be a stretch in
three Test matches, but who knows. Without having to worry
about anything else other than bowling, and on reasonably seem
friendly wickets at Hagley the Basin Seddon Park, he could
do it. I honestly think relinquishing the captaincy is a
good thing for Tim Southy. He is one of our

(03:49):
cricketing greats. He deserves to go out on top, and
the longer the captain cy saga played out, the more
his legacy was being affected. Now he's got a chance
for a swan song at home and to enjoy a
fitting into a great career.

Speaker 1 (04:04):
For more from Weekend Sport with j List and Fine,
Listen live to news Talks at B weekends from midday
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio