(Reuters) – Skipper Tim Southee is confident New Zealand can brush of their heavy loss to England in the pink ball test at Bay Oval and bounce back in the second match in daylight hours in Wellington next week.
England ran rampant with bat and ball in Tauranga to set up a 267-run victory on Sunday and take a 1-0 lead in the two-test series.
Perhaps most concerning for the Black Caps was that their world class top three – Tom Latham, Devon Conway and Kane Williamson – scored just one half century between them over the match.
“It was not long ago that Kane got a double hundred and Devon got a hundred,” Southee said.
“I think they had the worst of the conditions both times having to go out under lights, but if you look at our top three and they’re three of the best players we’ve had.
“So as a group we know and we trust that they’ll come right when we go back to Wellington with a more traditional test match.”
England secured their first test win in New Zealand since 2008 with the “Bazball” style of cricket they have been playing under the captaincy of Christchurch-born Ben Stokes and coaching of former New Zealand skipper Brendon “Baz” McCullum.
Southee, a former team mate of McCullum’s, said he thought England’s entertaining style was good for the game but that the aggressive batting did create chances for bowlers.
“I think it’s very exciting,” the seamer said.
“As a bowling side you’re excited about coming up against it because it presents opportunities as well, that there’s only one way they’re going to play and one way they know how to play.”
“If we hang tough, and are a little bit more disciplined, then things can go our way.”
Southee said he hoped Matt Henry, who missed the Bay Oval test to remain in Christchurch for the birth of his first child, would be back to bolster the pace attack when the second test started on Friday.
The 34-year-old said there was not much doom and gloom in the dressing room as New Zealanders tended “not to ride the emotions too much”, even when things were going well.
“We’re still enjoying ourselves, enjoying each other’s company and trusting each other and what we’re trying to do,” he said.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney; editing by Bradley Perrett)
