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England Gets Tim Southee Boost With NZ Star Joining As 'Special Skills Consultant'

Soumyajit Dutta

Tim Southee [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]Tim Southee [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]

Fresh off his retirement from Test cricket, New Zealand legend Tim Southee is set to swap the pitch for the coaching dugout, reuniting with former skipper Brendon McCullum as part of England’s backroom staff. 

Tim Southee’s short-term role as a Specialist Skills Consultant kicks off with England’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge on May 22, marking his first foray into coaching after a storied 16-year international career.

Southee To Run Alongside McCullum In Mentorship Shoes!

Southee, 36, shared the field with McCullum 170 times during their playing days, including 78 Tests under McCullum’s captaincy. Their partnership extended beyond international cricket, with stints together at IPL’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Middlesex in the T20 Blast. 

Now, the duo reunites to bolster England’s coaching arsenal, stepping into the void left by James Anderson. The legendary pacer transitioned to a mentoring role post-retirement in 2023 but is currently prioritizing a comeback with Lancashire after recovering from a calf injury.

A Summer of Dual Roles

Southee’s ECB contract spans a packed summer with Zimbabwe Tests from May 22 and five matches against India spanning from June to July. The white-ball tours, a T20I and ODI series vs. West Indies will also be overlooked by Southee.

His coaching stint concludes after the Oval Test on August 4, after which he’ll return to play for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. The ECB praised Southee’s appointment.

"With his vast experience of playing in a wide range of conditions around the world and across all formats, [Southee] brings valuable insight and knowledge to the players," ECB said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

As Trent Bridge gears up for Zimbabwe’s visit, all eyes will be on Southee’s debut in the coaching box, a new chapter for a player whose career has been defined by adaptability and relentless skill.