Southee
admitted
that
it
is
not
easy
to
bowl
short
balls
on
slow
surfaces,
but
said
the
tactic
was
under-employed
while
bowling
to
Shreyas
in
the
first
Test.
“Those
are
the
decisions
which
Kane
Williamson
and
Gary
Stead
(NZ
coach)
have
to
make
in
the
next
24
hours.
We
have
not
been
able
to
train
because
of
the
weather.
“They
will
have
a
look
at
the
wicket
this
afternoon
and
then
a
decision
can
be
made
but
we
are
yet
to
take
a
look
at
the
wicket,”
said
Southee
during
a
virtual
press
conference.
When
asked
whether
more
short-ball
tactic
could
be
employed
while
bowling
to
Shreyas
Iyer,
Southee
said:
“He
played
exceptionally
well,
the
way
he
played
on
his
debut
and
with
that
confidence,
it
was
brilliant.
“I
guess
we
have
a
little
more
information
on
him
now.
It
is
not
that
easy
to
target
with
short
ball
on
such
slow
surfaces.
We
will
look
at
our
plans,
although
he
scored
some
runs,
India
has
a
quality
lineup.”
Talking
about
the
inclement
weather
in
Mumbai,
Southee
said:
“I
guess
the
wickets
has
been
under
the
covers,
hopefully,
Gary
and
Kane
can
have
a
look
at
this
wicket
this
afternoon.
We
were
not
expecting
rain
but
this
is
something
we
need
to
adapt
to
it.”
Southee
has
also
backed
the
Kiwis
middle
order
to
come
good
in
the
second
Test
against
India
despite
a
poor
show
in
the
opening
game
at
the
Green
Park
Stadium
last
week.
Ross
Taylor,
Henry
Nicholls,
and
Tom
Blundell
all
failed
to
leave
a
mark
before
Rachin
Ravindra’s
gutsy
innings
helped
New
Zealand
earn
a
draw
in
the
first
Test
on
Monday.
“No,
I
don’t
think
so
(middle-order
concern).
There
were
periods
for
both
sides
where
one
was
able
to
take
wickets
at
a
time,
so
it’s
not
easy
to
start
in
these
conditions,”
said
Southee
during
the
virtual
pre-match
press
conference.
“Ross
Taylor
is
experienced
and
knows
this
part
of
the
world
as
well
and
then
you
have
a
couple
of
guys
who
have
played
here.
“So
I
don’t
think
the
form
of
middle
order
is
a
concern
for
us.
They
are
all
quality
players
and
I’m
sure
they
can
perform
at
this
level,”
he
added.
