PAK vs NZ 2022-23: New Zealand Cricket announced a 15-member squad for a three-match red ball series against Pakistan. Tim Southee will mark his captaincy debut for the first time as a full-time skipper in the longest format.
This was proclaimed after Kane Williamson relinquished the captaincy position on Thursday, 15th December. The right-handed Williamson had manoeuvred New Zealand in all three formats since 2016 when Brendon McCullum retired from international cricket.
Since 2016, the 32-year-old Williamson has headed the Blackcaps in 40 Test matches, securing a victory in 22 of them and losing 10. Moreover, In Southampton 2021, New Zealand defeated India by an eight-wicket margin on their route to capturing the World Test Championship (WTC) under Williamson’s leadership.
Later this month, the right-arm-medium Tim Southee will marshal a young Kiwi squad in two tests against Pakistan, crowning himself as the nation’s 31st test captain. Tim Southee has spearheaded New Zealand in 22 T20 internationals in the past.
PAK vs NZ 2022-23: “I am sure Tim Southee Will Continue to Bring an Aggressive Approach”, Gary Stead
The 34-year-old Tim Southee is the third-highest wicket-taker for the Blackcaps in the red-ball contingent. The Northland-born Tim Southee has claimed 347 test scalps in 88 matches at an average of 28.99, including 14 five-wicket-hauls and 1 ten-wicket-haul.
Only Daniel Vettori (361 wickets in 112 matches) and Sir Richard Hadlee (431 wickets in 48 matches) are ahead of Tim Southee in terms of test wickets. While Tim Southee has taken over the captaincy in the longest format, Kane Williamson will continue to usher the Kiwi squad into the white-ball formats.
After Harry Cave in 1955, Tim Southee is only the second New Zealand fast bowler that is designated as a full-time captain. New Zealand Head Coach, Gary Stead is thrilled about the upcoming in against Pakistan and believes Tim Southee can bring an aggressive approach into this squad.
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Stead said, “We’ve seen Tim Southee’s captaincy skills on display with the T20 side and I’m sure he’ll continue to bring an aggressive style, whilst still maintaining the core fundamentals of how this Black Caps team operates in the test arena.”
Stead also stresses workload management for cricketers in light of three prominent formats reigning the sport at the moment and believes relinquishing test captaincy could bring the best out of Kane Williamson.
“We hope by lessening his workload we can continue to see the best of Kane Williamson for longer on the international stage and we know he will remain a key leader in this group,” Stead added.
Furthermore, after being sidelined for four years, right-arm-leg-break bowler Ish Sodhi received a call-up for the Pakistan series and the 15-man roster also features Glenn Phillips, who has only been capped once in this format, and uncapped Blair Tickner.
While Trent Boult, who opted out of the central contract earlier this year, is unavailable for the tour, the 27-year-old Kyle Jamieson has not recovered from a back injury. New Zealand Cricket will announce the ODI squad for the Pakistan series and India tour on Monday, 19th December.
PAK vs NZ: Complete New Zealand Squad for Pakistan Tests:
Tim Southee (c), Kane Williamson, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Tom Blundell (wk), Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Will Young.
The New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2022-23 would commence on 26th December with the first test being conducted at National Stadium, Karachi. The second and final test is hosted by Multan and would initiate on 3rd January.
