Hard work pays off for young Black Cap

Improving rhythm, accuracy and aggression with the ball against Pakistan has seen Tim Southee take another step closer to cementing a spot in the Black Caps starting line-up - no matter the capacity.
The Maungakaramea Cricket Club bowler has been one of the real improvers during the current summer tour, taking a rare-as-hens-teeth five-wicket bag in the first Twenty20 match and then backing that up with some excellent spells in the test series.
Southee has been working hard on his game and is fitter than ever.
"Coming back from different spells and still being able to bowl with the same energy as your opening spell is something I've been working on and I think that's starting to show now," he said.
"Your spot is never quite cemented in any side, because you've got to keep on performing but I was relatively happy with the way I bowled during the test series although overall the results were obviously a bit disappointing," he said.
After winning the Twenty20 series 2-1 and losing the test series 0-1, the Black Caps won't struggle for motivation in the one day series starting on Saturday in Wellington.
Like the rest of the squad for game one, Southee has also been named in the world cup squad that leaves for India and Sri Lanka almost immediately after the current series has been completed.
"I think the guys are really looking forward to this chance to play these one-dayers before the World Cup gets underway ... it was a disappointing off-season for us with the way we played the one-dayers overseas [in India and Bangladesh] and we do pride ourselves on our one-day ability, so hopefully we can turn that form around under our own conditions," he said.
"Hopefully I can continue the good rhythm and confidence I've got with my bowling at the moment through the one-day series and into the World Cup."
Southee's form with the bat has also been encouraging. He has pushed his test average up above 20 - not bad for a tailender - by top-scoring in the first test with 56 giving the selectors another reason to include him in the ODI World Cup squad.
"That's another thing I've been working on and will continue to work on - it's another work in progress for me. There are a few things that need to be worked on so I'll keep on at them as long as I need to," he said.
Southee will be queuing up to use the services of new Black Caps bowling coach Allan Donald, who joined the team in Welllington yesterday, assisting head coach John Wright and assistant coach Trent Woodhill.
"He's a world class bowler and he's going to have a lot of knowledge to pass on to us. Everyone's looking forward to him joining the side and I think when he joins us he will be welcomed by everyone - not only the bowlers."
The 22-year-old is highly motivated and will take all the help he can get to push his name further forward in the selectors' minds when it comes to team selection.