Southee confident of New Zealand’s Champions Trophy chances
The recently retired Black Caps legend Tim Southee has backed Mitchell Santner and Co to shine at the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
Tim Southee will find himself in an unfamiliar position when the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 begins, as he will be watching from the sidelines rather than in the middle of the action, having retired from international cricket at the end of 2024.
Despite stepping away from the game, the veteran pacer has followed his side's recent exploits with great interest, and expressed confidence in his former teammates, backing them to shine in the upcoming tournament.
His optimism is reinforced by New Zealand’s recent Tri-Nation Series victory in Pakistan.
"The way the team have played, different guys have stepped up," Southee added in an exclusive chat with the ICC. "It’s a good mix between some experienced guys and some exciting young guys with a lot of potential. The experience of this Tri-Nation Series is only going to stand them in good stead for the tournament.
"So, taking some momentum into the tournament and being accustomed to those conditions, it’s only going to be a good thing."
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As New Zealand aim to bring home their first Champions Trophy title since 2000, Southee acknowledged that the team's pace attack lacks experience, given the absence of Trent Boult and himself.
At the same time, the pacer backed fast bowlers Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith, to shoulder the resposibility at the big stage.
“It’s something different not having Trent and myself at an ICC event but at the same time, it’s exciting. These events are great to be a part of and it’s in front of these guys now, I’m very excited to see how they go.
“Will O’Rourke, in the Test game we’ve seen what he can do. He’s still so young but he’s got all the attributes that are going to set him up to have a lot of success in international cricket. I’m looking forward to watching him in his first ICC event. Nathan Smith has a real confidence about him, and believes in himself which I think you need at this level.”
Will O'Rourke's magnificent 4-wicket haul powers New Zealand to Tri-Series glory 🙌#PAKvNZ 📝: https://t.co/1AGfEbGry3 pic.twitter.com/uHr5pAPcT6
— ICC (@ICC) February 15, 2025
Southee furthermore backed the likes of Kane Williamson and skipper Mitchell Santner to be the torchbearers of the Kiwi campaign.
“Kane is in good form, it’s nice to see him with a couple of scores, he’s class. He’s not played a lot of one-day cricket for the last few years but to see him come back and have two significant contributions is what we’re used to seeing. But it’s also pleasing for me now as a fan of the Black Caps.
“When he is in the middle, it comes with experience and the way he plays, he just looks in control the whole time.
“Mitch has done a great job as captain. It’s still reasonably new to him but I experienced a bit of his captaincy towards the end of my career. He’s very calm, you see that in the way he plays his cricket.
“He thinks about the game well and I think he looks to lead with his performances across all three areas. He’s one of the best fielders, an unbelievably skilful bowler and a more than useful batter so I’m sure he’ll be looking to lead in all those three areas.”
The experienced campaigner expressed confidence in his former teammates, backing them to go all the way and replicate their success from 2000.
“If you look at the track record of New Zealand in ICC events, they are always there or thereabouts. In a tournament like the Champions Trophy, if you get on a bit of a roll, anything can happen. I’d love to see the Blackcaps there and hopefully lifting the trophy at the end.”