Southee cherishing spearhead role

New Zealand

Fast bowler Tim Southee is relishing a key role among the rest of the New Zealand bowling attack, ahead of next week's second Test against the West Indies at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.

Fast bowler Tim Southee is relishing a key role among the rest of the New Zealand bowling attack, ahead of next week's second Test against the West Indies at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.

Southee, fellow seamers Trent Boult and Jimmy Neesham – and spinners Mark Craig – were at the fore of a convincing 186-run at Sabina Park in Kingston earlier this month.

While Craig was named Man of the Match for a outstanding figures of eight for 188 on debut, Southee's complementary six for 51 brought a career-best position of fifth in the International Cricket Council's rankings for Test bowlers.

"We have a raw and young bowling attack and it's an exciting attack to be part of. We all bounce ideas off each other, throw things around. There's a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes," Southee told the <i>New Zealand Herald</i>.

"Bowling coach Shane Bond and the bowlers set plans for each batsman and it's pleasing to see them come off and know we are doing the right thing behind closed doors.

"Test cricket is tough. You work through spells to try and pick up wickets and you may not get it in the first spell but when you come back and keep applying pressure the rewards will come."

The West Indians, meanwhile, have dropped all-rounder Marlon Samuels and opener Kieran Powell for the second Test. The uncapped Jermaine Blackwood and Leon Johnson have, instead, been called up.

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