Hoping to play more three-match Test series rather than two-match ones: New Zealand pacer Tim Southee

By ANI

AUCKLAND: New Zealand pacer Tim Southee on Monday said he hopes that his side plays more three-match Test series as compared to two-match Test series.

Last week, Kane Williamson-led New Zealand defeated India in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC) to grab the Test mace. The Kiwis are also currently the number one ranked Test side in the world.

“I guess one of our strengths as a side is that we sort of just concentrate on what’s put in front of us, and what we try and achieve as a group, but I guess playing more Test cricket as a whole would be nice. We don’t play that many three-match series, so I guess just being able to play more Test matches and hopefully more three-match series rather than two-match series,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Southee as saying.

“But yeah, I think it’s tough with future tours programme already being in place up to now, but just being able to perform at this level for a number of years and being a consistent side, I guess we have that right to play more Test cricket,” he added.

New Zealand has played 18 bilateral Test series over the last five years. Of those, just four have been three-match series, and the rest have been two-match Test series. New Zealand’s WTC final opponent India also played 18 series but 12 of them have included at least three Tests.

“As players, Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game, and you always want to play more. It’s something that we haven’t played a lot of, three-match-series, so to be able to test yourself over three matches rather than just two matches — it’s obviously a lot more taxing, it’s a tougher battle to get yourself up and go again over three matches, but that’s the beauty of it, and it’s part and parcel of it. It’s tough cricket, and you want to play as much as you possibly can,” said Southee.

“I feel as fit as I ever have, so I’d love to play this game for as long as I possibly can. It’s an absolute privilege and an absolute honour to represent your country, and do what we do, so I personally would love to do it for as long as possible,” he added.

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor played unbeaten knocks off 52 and 47 respectively as New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets to clinch the inaugural edition of the WTC final at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton on Wednesday.