Blackcaps vs South Africa: Mid-Test Digest (First Test Emergency!)
Sometimes you just gotta do what the team needs.
The Mid-Test Digest usually comes, well mid-Test and all. Tim Southee got the cut though and that requires some digesting, especially as it seems like everyone is a bit confused and overly dramatic about the decision. Funnily enough, in reflecting on the Blackcaps vs South Africa ODI series in which Southee and Trent Boult both averaged far too close to 50 (Boult under 50, Southee over) for two leaders of the attack, I pondered whether Southee and Trent Boult were a bit too comfortable; perhaps Southee and Boult felt as though they'd never be dropped.
I only pondered that in the context of the ODI team though because ya'know if your best bowlers aren't up to par then maybe give some other geezers a run.
Then Southee got dropped from the Blackcaps Test team. Everyone started to rattle off stats and opinions as to why Southee should or shouldn't be there, it was either a case of 'yeah about time 'cos Southee has been shit for ages' or 'Southee dominated in his last Test outing and got Man Of The Match'.
Even word of Southee's antics with the willows somehow came into the equation. Those of you who still worry yourselves about Southee's batting (good or bad), must note that Southee still wields an Adidas bat... or a bat with Adidas stickers on it. Not too many batsmen around the world use Adidas bats which should help you gauge the relevance of Southee as a batsman.
Southee didn't get dropped because he sucks. Southee isn't playing because Mike Hesson and Kane Williamson wanted Jeetan Patel in their bowling attack (something that needs exploring in its own thingy), resulting in fairly simple process of elimination. Southee vs Boult would result in most of y'all rolling with Boult, while Neil Wagner has demanded selection through his fantastic form of the past 12-18 months. Remember how confused people were when Wagner was battling to be selected in the Test team despite all his success? Wagner's got himself over that hump and is now rolling down the hill
One of the commentators highlighted the need for a new-ball specialist and apparently that worked against Wagner, as if Wagner had never opened the bowling before. I'd lean towards Wagner simply getting in where he fits in with the Blackcaps and with Boult and Southee operating with the new-ball, Wagner had to find a niche with the older ball.
Most of the readers will have Southee behind Boult and Wagner, simple, no dramas. That's a bloody handy three-pronged seam attack regardless.
To fit in Patel though, a seamer had to be cut. But let's shift the conversation from comparing seamers to seamers and comparing Southee to Patel, or Southee to Santner. Who am I to argue with Hesson and WIlliamson's assessment of the Dunedin pitch? They viewed it as offering greater assistance to Patel/Santner than to Southee and this fits in nicely with the recent infatuation with Patel's controlled off-spin and the infatuation with Santner as a bowling all-rounder.
Maybe this whole situation is low key about what Santner offers?
I've said that I like the creativity of playing with two spinners in Aotearoa, but that idea mainly centred around an attacking spinner such as Ish Sodhi. Santner/Patel is all good though, assuming one can genuinely take 5-for on a pitch that apparently helps them spinners.
What's if Sodhi, Patel and Santner are all on fire and demand selection? Three spinners will mean that a seamer misses out.
What's if Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham both demand selection? Well a spinner or seamer will miss out.
This is all super confusing, but the narrative has been clear and kinda silly. Don't view this as a major negative or reflection of where Southee sits as the return of Patel into the mix and Wagner's rise now gives the Blackcaps options. Options and depth are always fantastic, as they allow Hesson and Williamson to tweak the team to match conditions, plus we can all sense how Southee will respond when he's back.