Pace bowler Tim Southee will have no problem adhering to New Zealand coach Andy Moles' call for ruthlessness when they face the West Indies in today's opening Twenty20 cricket match in Auckland.
Southee was unwanted for this month's two-test series, drawn 0-0, after fading in the preceding twin test losses to Australia.
However, Moles has recalled him for the two rapid-fire fixtures, the first at Eden Park and the second at Hamilton on Sunday.
Hard-hitting Northern Districts allrounder Southee hopes it will provide a pathway back into the one-day international side -- who start a five-match series against the West Indies on Wednesday next week -- and then a date against the visiting India in March.
Although there are only four overs on offer to prove his form with the ball tonight, Southee knows he can't waste them.
"Hopefully I'll bowl well. If I don't then its self-explanatory," he said of his short-term future.
"It's not much fun watching. It's made me hungry to get back in and do everything I can to stay in the side."
Southee said the first priority for bowlers in Twenty20 cricket is to be defensive but said taking wickets remained the best way to stifle an innings.
"You've just got to minimise the boundaries, create pressure and then hopefully they'll get themselves out," he said.
"They (West Indies) do have a powerful batting lineup but if you knock a couple off early you can send the shivers down them and then (take it from there)."
Southee has played about 10 first class games under Moles at Northern Districts so believed he would have no problems adjusting to his requirements at international level.
Moles was disappointed New Zealand didn't ram home their positions of advantage in drawn tests against the tourists in Dunedin and Napier.
He was heartened by individual performances, particularly from the batsmen, but wanted more steely resolve.
"The biggest thing for me is to get the guys to understand how good they can become themselves," Moles said.
"One or two of them don't realise how good they can become.
"Look at Jessie (Ryder) for example, I think he can become a true world class player.
"When he gets his first hundred, I think he'll go from strength to strength."
Limited overs cricket may provide the sort of stage to rediscover their confidence, Moles theorised.
He pointed to their world ranking in one-day cricket of fifth, compared to eighth in tests.
"We've got history in one-day cricket, the guys know how to win one-day games," he said.
"The West Indians love to play calypso-style cricket, they'll be dangerous but I'm sure we'll give a good account of themselves."
Meanwhile, former England allrounder and current Central Districts coach Dermott Reeve has been working with the Twenty20 bowlers this week.
Moles believed his former Warwickshire teammate would make an immediate impact.
"He's very inventive about his bowling, he's very upbeat. He's exposing the players to some new ideas, fresh thoughts," Moles said.
"There's lots of variations so we have to make sure we practice all the variations so we're at the top of our game.
"If you just look to bowl the same ball, the batters are going to kill you."
The game is scheduled to begin at 5pm.
NZPA
