2021 T20 World Cup: Southe wants New Zealand bowlers to adapt quickly to Dubai wicket

New Zealand will have to adapt quickly to the pace of Dubai’s wicket if it wants to defeat India when the teams meet on Sunday’s T20 World Cup 2021 clash, said pelota player Tim Southee.

The Black Caps lost their first match of the T20 against Pakistan on Tuesday by five wickets and also face an Indian team in need of victory after suffering a defeat in the opening against the same opponent.

“A lot of learning needs to be taken from the first game,” said Southeek, who lost his 100th T20 wicket against Pakistan.

“We weren’t far behind a quality team from Pakistan, but we have to park that. We have to look forward.

“It’s such a short tournament and there’s no easy match,” he added.

The New Zealanders will play at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the first time in the competition, and India lost on the same pitch in the opening match, giving Virat Kohli’s team an advantage.

“You have to adapt to three of each of the three fields you play on, they provide different support for the seamstresses, which we saw in Sharjah, they worked slower balls in the back of a length,” Southe said.

“The Dubai wicket used to have a bit more pace and it seems to be better, so we need to adjust to that as soon as possible,” he added.

Only the top two nations in the two sets of the Super 12 phase of the competition rise to the final four. Pakistan has already secured three credible victories in the top of the standings, with New Zealand and India battling for second place in the semi-finals.

“They’re a quality side,” Southeek said of India. “They have shown it for many years, and they will also want to win for those who come from losing. So there should be a great competition between the two very good sides,” he added.