Tim Southee hopes to keep India winless on tour

Tim Southee

New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee has said that his side will go into the second and final Test against India aiming to keep the visitors winless on the tour.

Southee said, “They have obviously had a disappointing tour but are too good a side to roll over. They’ll come hard and they will want to have a win on the tour. They are a far better side than they have shown on this tour so far. They have a lot to prove in this last Test and have got a lot of quality players. I am sure we are going to have to up our game. They’ll come out and look to finish their tour on a high. Hopefully, we can keep them winless on their trip to New Zealand. Clean sweep is on our mind.”

He also said that his team is well prepared, adding, “We have had a low-key couple of days, guys have reflected on the first Test and what a special achievement it was. Cricket is a sport where you cannot get too far ahead. It can always come around and bite you. We are focusing on the next couple of days leading into the next Test and prepare as well as we can.”

He also added his thoughts about the pitch for the second test, saying, “It is a bit tough to see the difference between the pitch and outfield at the moment. It is usually a pretty good deck here. We will have to see how it is on the morning of the match. It is still another couple of days and a bit of sunlight on it will round that off a bit I am sure. But the bowlers have a spring in their step having a look at that. We are lucky enough to know the conditions. We have played here not that long ago against the West Indies. So it is not a hell lot of changes for us.”

The Kiwis certainly seem confident ahead of the crucial second Test, and India faces a tough challenge ahead.