New Zealand Test captain Tim Southee heaped praise on India's right-arm fast bowling sensation, Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a phenomenal talent across all three formats of the game. He added that the bowler was right back in the game since his return to the game, following an injury on his back that made him miss the game for 11 months. Incidentally, the appreciation from Southee has come in the wake of the one flowing in from Australian great Ricky Ponting, who recently identified Bumrah as one of the premium bowlers in world cricket since since his arrival on the scene.
Bumrah came back timely just before the ODI World Cup last year, where he took 20 wickets. He compiled 19 wickets in the last four Tests this year against England. In June, he was feted as the Player of the Tournament as India claimed the Men's T20 World Cup after his return of 15 wickets at an economy rate of 4.17.
“He’s been incredible obviously to be able to firstly bounce back from the major injury he had and come back and he’s even better than what he was beforehand and then throw in on top of that having to juggle multiple formats can be difficult at times as well and he seems to have been able to do that with ease as well,” said Southee.
“He’s probably more experienced, understands his game a bit more, he probably had that time where he was injured to come back and be recharged, refreshed and I think we’ve just seen a great version of Jasprit Bumrah across all three formats. He’s brilliant across all three at the moment. I don’t think there’s anyone that he’s better in, he’s tremendous across all three,” said Southee to reporters on the sidelines of a Cricket Rating Awards show in Mumbai.
"New Zealand has a one-off Test fixture against Afghanistan in September in Greater Noida and follow that up with two Tests in Sri Lanka later that month. A three-Test series versus India in October precedes a return home to clash with England in another three Tests".
Southee admitted to not being able to play all Test matches when it came to sub-continental conditions where the team needs a different balance. “It is just natural when you come to this part of the world obviously spin plays a big part. But ideally, I would like to play all the test matches available. I love test cricket, but I understand there is a balance to the side and obviously it is not easy.”
“We have got nine Test matches in the next few months so there is a lot of Test cricket. So it is all about managing workloads. But for me, as long as you are fit and ready to go then I would like to play every game.”
Upon asking how New Zealand do manage the workload of their players, Southee replied, “I don’t think you go in with too many preconceived ideas but that is something that may happen. I think you are picking your best side for that Test match no matter where you are in the world. So I think that stays true wherever you go.”
“You pick your best side to win over the five days. We have got a lot of cricket in the subcontinent, six Test matches and three Test matches back home. So there is a big chunk of Test cricket to be excited about over the next few months,” he added.
Responding to current test captain Kane Williamson, along with wicketkeeper-batsman Devon Conway and batter Finn Allen not taking up New Zealand Cricket's latest offer for their central contract in 2024/25, Southee said the team's key batters, Williamson and Conway, would still be present in most of the Test matches.
Aside from that, “If you look at it from Kane and Devon’s point of view, they’re still committed to New Zealand cricket. We’ve got nine Test matches coming up. So they’re committed to those test matches. So as far as the Test side is concerned, it’s not too dissimilar. They’re still going to be there even though they don’t have a New Zealand contract."
When he was asked what hectic T20 schedules had done to player availability for pivotal international matches, Southee was forthright that it's a bit of a quagmire. “I don’t have the answers right now. I don’t think many people do. It’s about working out what’s best for each individual board and their players.”
“New Zealand Cricket has seemed to think that’s the best way forward for the next 12 months. I don’t think Kane and Devon will miss a lot of cricket for New Zealand. So for them to have the flexibility and ability in doing that but still also be committed to New Zealand, which I think that’s where the casual playing agreement comes in.”
“So like I said, as far as the Test cricket is concerned, those two will be heavily involved in the nine Test matches we’ve got through to the end of the year. It would be nice to see the international and the leagues working together in some way because especially Test cricket, I think a lot of players, it’s still the pinnacle of the format.”
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