KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's cricket selectors admitted last night they thought hard about pulling fast-rising allrounder Tim Southee out of the forthcoming under 19 World Cup and adding him into their ODI squad to face England.
The 19-year-old Southee has made a strong start to his international career in the two Twenty20 losses to England this week, particularly in Christchurch last night when he did a fine job in taking two for 22 in his four overs.
Southee was left out of the squad for the first three ODIs, starting in Wellington on Saturday, as he is flying to Malaysia to join the under 19s for their World Cup. Southee is the only player who remains in the under 19 team from the last youth World Cup in 2005-06.
But the panel decided to let him join his peers rather than add him to the 13-man squad for the ODIs.
"They've recommitted to the side chosen already," New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker said last night.
"Whilst they believe he has made some significant advances it's time for him to head off to the under 19 World Cup.
"They also believe that while he has performed well it's really up to the bowlers who've done the job in the past and been successful to front up."
Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum admitted last night he would "love to have him" in the ODI side.
"He's a cool calm bloke and seems to fit into the team well. He's going to be a crucial part of this team over the years to come," McCullum said.
Southee will be back in New Zealand in late February and might yet be in the frame for a callup to the test squad when that three-game series begins in Hamilton on March 5.
