Kiwi quick Southee biggest threat to Aussies: White

CHRISTCHURCH - Australian batsman Cameron White admits that his side has identified New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee as a genuine threat ahead of the five game ODI series, starting in Napier on Wednesday.

Southee played a crucial role in the high-scoring Twenty20 International against Australia in Christchurch, in which the home side claimed a sensational victory after the tied game was decided in a remarkable one-over playoff.

The 21-year-old held his nerve to concede 11 runs in the final over of the match with Michael Clarke (67) and Cameron White (64 not out) smashing the ball to all parts of stadium and seemingly ready to snatch the game away from the Black Caps.

“It felt like unbelievable bowling. He didn’t miss too many yorkers and the pressure was on him as well. He bowled as good as anyone could ever bowl under that sort of pressure,” The Age quoted White, as saying.

“We were trying to take the attack to him. He just put it in the hole better than most,” he added.

White further said that the Australians expected the New Zealand team to hit back hard after their humiliating defeat in the first Twenty20 game in Wellington.

“They were always going to have something to offer. They’re always a very, very hard team to beat in their own country or any country for that matter. We knew they were going to come hard after the first game and obviously Brendon (Brendon McCullum) played fantastically well,” White said.

When asked if the Kiwis and their fans appeared more excited about the ODI series than the Tests which follow, White said: “I definitely get the sense that’s the case. They’re in their home country, they’re on their home turf, they will be really hard to beat. They have a very good one-day side, a very dangerous side.” (ANI)