View photos: Third testKEY POINTS:
Stephen Fleming took a look at Tim Southee's selection of bats on Tuesday night and didn't like what he saw.
"He said 'try this one out'. I think that was the key," Southee said by way of explaining one of test cricket's more staggering innings on the final day against England yesterday.
The numbers paint part of the story. Southee, 19 and on debut, and following his five for 55 in England's first innings, belted 77 not out off just 40 balls, including nine sixes and two fours.
Only three players have hit more sixes in a test innings; only six men have got to 50 quicker than Southee - and none were on debut.
He was on 0 when last man Chris Martin arrived. Southee showed his intentions before lunch, clubbing two sixes off spinner Monty Panesar and fast-medium James Anderson to get off the mark. Then, having taken a spot of sustenance and recognising that Martin was unlikely to be much help, Southee "thought I'd have a swing, and it obviously came off".
What followed was remarkable. Panesar, who had taken six wickets to bowl England to the point of victory, was clubbed for 24 in one over. His post-lunch spell was 3-1-41-0 - the maiden to Martin.
The bulk of Southee's sixes were between square leg and mid wicket. Five came off Panesar, two apiece from Anderson and Stuart Broad. He struck the ball cleanly and even on grounds with larger boundaries than McLean Park most would have comfortably cleared the rope.
When Martin tickled a four to long leg it brought up their 50-stand, his contribution being five.
"It'll be all over in half an hour," a wag shouted from the stands as the eighth six sailed into the crowd shortly after.
Suddenly the margin for victory - 206 when the pair came together - had plummeted to 122.
But it was too good to last and Ryan Sidebottom removed Martin's off stump to secure England's 121-run win. The final stand of 84 came off 53 balls.
"I have in the past given it a nudge, but up until now I haven't scored many runs so it was good to actually get a few," Southee said.
Those in the know are aware of his hitting capabilities. He cracked his highest first-class score, 75 against Auckland last season, off just 47 balls; at the 2006 under 19 World Cup, those present still talk of his 92 off 55 balls to get New Zealand home in a big chase against Ireland.
Southee batted No 9 in the first innings but was demoted a spot yesterday, making way for Jeetan Patel. That might be a first, and last.
He got some banter from the England players early on about that, before having the last laugh.
"Straussy' [England batsman Andrew Strauss, a teammate at Northern Districts this season] said 'it's not your natural game to hang around so just have a go'."
Southee is realistic on what he calls "a dream start" to his test career.
"I couldn't imagine it being this good myself. It's given me a lot of confidence and hopefully I can make the most of it while the sun shines," he said.
Both Fleming and Southee are sponsored by Gunn and Moore. So who keeps the bat? Southee.
NEW ZEALAND'S FASTEST TEST 50s
29 balls: Tim Southee, v England, Napier 2008
34 balls: Ian Smith, v Pakistan, Faisalabad, 1990
36 balls: Bruce Taylor, v West Indies, Auckland, 1969
FASTEST TEST 50s
24 balls: Jacques Kallis (South Africa) v Zimbabwe, Cape Town, 2004-05
26 balls: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) v India, Bangalore, 2004-05; Mohammad Ashraful (Bangladesh) v India, Mirpur, 2007
27 balls: Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan) v South Africa, Cape Town 2002-03
28 balls: Ian Botham (England) v India, Delhi, 1981-82; Foffie Williams (West Indies) v England, Barbados, 1947-48
29 balls: Southee and Bruce Yardley (Australia) v West Indies, Barbados, 1978
MOST SIXES IN TEST INNINGS
12: Wasim Akram (Pakistan) v Zimbabwe, Sheikhupura 1996
11: Nathan Astle (New Zealand) v England, Christchurch 2002
11: Matthew Hayden (Australia) v Zimbabwe, Perth 2003
9: Chris Cairns (New Zealand) v Zimbabwe, Auckland 1996
9: Tim Southee (New Zealand) v England, Napier 2008
9: Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) v New Zealand, Lahore 2002
