NEW DELHI: Tim Southee, the captain of the New Zealand men’s Test team, has praised India’s fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for his performances in all three formats, saying the bowler has been a force to be reckoned with ever since he returned to the game after an 11-month absence due to a back injury.
After Australia’s great Ricky Ponting, Southee is the second cricketer to praise Bumrah as the best all-around bowler in the world.
Bumrah returned to action in time for the ODI World Cup of the previous year, where he took 20 wickets. He also took 19 wickets in four Test matches against England earlier in the year. Bumrah took 15 wickets at an economy rate of 4.17 earning him the title of Player of the Tournament as India won the Men’s T20 World Cup in June.
“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, as per IANS.
“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.
September will see New Zealand play a single Test match in Greater Noida against Afghanistan before heading to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series later in the month. In October, New Zealand will return to India for a three-match Test series before taking a plane home to play three more Tests against England.
Southee said that if a new playing eleven balance is required, he might not play every Test match in the sub-continental conditions.
“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.”
Asked how New Zealand makes its workload choices, Southee explained, “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.
Although Devon Conway, Finn Allen, and Kane Williamson have declined central contracts with New Zealand Cricket for the 2024-2025 season, Southee said the first two players will still be available for most of the Blackcaps’ Test matches.
“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,” Southee added.
When asked how the evolving T20 cricket scene will impact players’ availability for international cricket, Southee said he didn’t have an answer. “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.”
After Australia’s great Ricky Ponting, Southee is the second cricketer to praise Bumrah as the best all-around bowler in the world.
Bumrah returned to action in time for the ODI World Cup of the previous year, where he took 20 wickets. He also took 19 wickets in four Test matches against England earlier in the year. Bumrah took 15 wickets at an economy rate of 4.17 earning him the title of Player of the Tournament as India won the Men’s T20 World Cup in June.
“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, as per IANS.
“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.
September will see New Zealand play a single Test match in Greater Noida against Afghanistan before heading to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series later in the month. In October, New Zealand will return to India for a three-match Test series before taking a plane home to play three more Tests against England.
Southee said that if a new playing eleven balance is required, he might not play every Test match in the sub-continental conditions.
“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.”
Asked how New Zealand makes its workload choices, Southee explained, “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.
Although Devon Conway, Finn Allen, and Kane Williamson have declined central contracts with New Zealand Cricket for the 2024-2025 season, Southee said the first two players will still be available for most of the Blackcaps’ Test matches.
“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,” Southee added.
When asked how the evolving T20 cricket scene will impact players’ availability for international cricket, Southee said he didn’t have an answer. “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.”