New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has asked bowlers to adapt or risk getting caught in the dust in the fast-paced Indian Premier League (IPL), where mountains of runs are increasing with alarming frequency.
This season’s IPL has been a record-breaking playground, from Sunrises Hyderabad’s total to Punjab Kings’ epic, leaving little room for bowlers to relax and question the fine balance between bat and ball in cricket’s shortest format.
With the T20 World Cup around the corner, Southee said evolution is needed in the “ever-changing” game. “The landscape continues to evolve and we have witnessed another change in India in recent weeks,” he told New Zealand media. “As a bowler, you have to grow with the times or risk falling back.”
While the spectacle was undeniably exciting, Southee admitted the preference for bowlers who favor some balance. “As a spectator, it’s exciting. As bowlers, I want us to take advantage a little. But I hope people enjoy watching cricket.”
The sentiment is shared by others in the cricket fraternity, including fellow players Trent Boult and Kane Williamson, who are preparing for the T20 World Cup.
As the team prepares for the tournament, New Zealand field a tested and fast bowling arsenal that includes the likes of Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson and Daryl Mitchell.
Across the Tasman Sea, Australia also relied on their attack boosted by the inclusion of second specialist spinner Ashton Agar in the fifteen-man squad.
