<p class="x_x_news-body"><strong>Tim Southee’s absence to hamper New Zealand’s chances, admits McCullum – Cricket News Update</strong></p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">Brendon McCullum, the newly appointed New Zealand captain, is disappointed to have lost Tim Southee’s services for the upcoming Test series against South Africa and revealed that the fast bowler was desperate to perform well on the
tour.</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">The 24-year-old cricketer, due to a thumb injury, has been ruled out of the two-match series, which starts from January 2, at Cape Town. Southee was rested for the T20 series between the two countries, which is going to commence today
at the Kingsmead, Durban.</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">In recent past, the cricketer from Northland has been the spearhead of the Kiwi bowling attack, performing well in all formats of the game. Southee picked up a dozen scalps in the two Tests in Sri Lanka last month, helping his side
square the series.</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">McCullum has admitted that Southee’s absence is going to hamper his team’s chances of giving a tough time to the hosts and expressed that the right-arm seamer was geared up to compete against one of the world’s finest bowling attacks.</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">“It's a big loss. Tim [Southee] has been our No.1 bowler in Test cricket for the last while,” McCullum said. "He is a real leader of the attack, even at a young age. He had a keen eye on this series to test himself out against some
of the best Test bowlers, Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn and the like.”</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">The injury to Southee has further weakened the Black Caps, who already looked thin without their two ace cricketers, Ross Taylor and Daniel Vettori.</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">New Zealand’s bowling coach, Shane Bond, is extremely impressed by the progress of Mitchell McClenaghan, the left-arm fast bowler, who is also expected to replace Southee in the Test squad.</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">“We haven't named a one-day team so there are chances on this tour for guys to put their hands up. Mitchell has got himself in really good physical condition and he deserves his opportunity,” said the former fast bowler.</p>
<p class="x_x_news-body">With Southee ruled out, the onus will be on Chris Martin, Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell to deliver the goods against Graeme Smith and company, who possess some of the world’s best batsmen in Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers.</p>
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