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England Cricket Board (ECB) on May 15 announced former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee as James Anderson's short-term replacement in the coaching staff. Southee has joined as a Speciallist Skills Consultant for the England team ahead of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe which will work as a preparation game for the five-Test series against India.
Southee's short stint will conclude with the five-Test series against India. The Test series is set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. The fifth and final Test will conclude in the first week of August at Kennington Oval, London.
Earlier, a leading English daily had reported that England team's head coach Brendon McCullum had called up Southee after Anderson signed a one-year deal with Lancashire. Last December, Southee retired from Test cricket. His last Test series was against England. The 36-year-old has 391 wickets to his name from 107 Tests at an average just over 30. He has 15 five-wicket hauls in the format.
Now, there will be three former Kiwi cricketers in England's coaching staff. Apart from new joinee Southee and head coach McCullum, Jeetan Patel is their spin bowling coach.
After the Test series, Southee will stay back in England. He will link up with The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix as a player. In the previous season, he had claimed 14 wickets from nine games for the franchise.
Southee's Test record against India
Southee has played 13 Tests against India including the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021 final. He has 55 wickets from 13 Tests against India at an average of 25.05, including three fifers. In the WTC final, he claimed five wickets against the Virat Kohli-led side on England soil. On England soil, Southee has 41 wickets from 10 Tests at an average of 34.36, including two fifers.
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