ESPNcricinfo staff
March 11, 2012
Tim Southee is expected to be dropped from the New Zealand squad for the second Test against South Africa, after conceding 140 runs for no wicket in the first Test, in Dunedin. Southee also had a torrid time in the limited-over games against South Africa, going for 64 off 10 overs in the first ODI, 61 off eight in the second, and 40 runs off four overs in the second Twenty20. Brent Arnel and Andrew Ellis are both in the Test squad and one of them is expected to take Southee's place in the XI.
Southee will go back to domestic cricket and play for Northern Districts in the next round of the Plunket Shield, which starts on Saturday, to work on issues with technique and form. Before the home series against South Africa, Southee had not had much to do in New Zealand's thrashing of Zimbabwe in the two-and-a-half-day Napier Test. On the tour of Australia last year, his five wickets had come at 44.6 runs apiece, and he was overshadowed by Doug Bracewell.
Ross Taylor, the New Zealand captain, had said after the first Test against South Africa that Southee had been having issues with his action. "Tim did not have the game of his life," Taylor said. "He struggled a little bit with his action but he's played a few Tests now. He's a confidence player and hopefully he can bounce back from this."
Meanwhile, BJ Watling and Dean Brownlie remain on the injured list for New Zealand, meaning Kruger van Wyk and Rob Nicol are likely to keep their places in the XI. Brownlie is expected to be back for the third Test.
The second Test is in Hamilton, starting March 15.
