Xtra Time Web Desk: New Zealand’s experienced fast bowler Tim Southee wants Kiwi pacers to adapt quickly to the wicket at Dubai International Stadium ahead of Sunday’s must win clash for both teams. With both New Zealand and India losing their clash against Pakistan, the match between the two teams has gained significance. The team that wins the tie will have an edge to qualify for the last four as the second team in Group 2 after Pakistan.
Talking about the game against Pakistan, Southee said, “There’s a lot of learnings to be taken from the first game. We weren’t far off against a quality Pakistan side, but we’ve got to park that. We’ve got to look forward. It’s such a short tournament and there’s no easy games.”
The New Zealanders will be playing at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the first time during the competition, while India lost at the same ground in their opener, potentially giving Virat Kohli’s side an advantage. According to Southee, the wickets at Dubai has a lot to offer as far as pace is concerned compared to the slow track at Sharjah.
“In each of the three grounds you play at you have to adapt to all three, they offer different assistance for the seamers, which we saw in Sharjah, the slower balls at the back of a length worked. The Dubai wicket tends to have a bit more pace in it and seems to be a better wicket, so we have to adapt to that as quickly as we can,” said Southee.
Finally, commenting on the game against India, Southee said, “They’re a quality side,” Southee said of India. “They’ve shown that for many years and for them coming off a loss they’ll be wanting to win as well. So it should a great contest (between) two very good sides.”