As the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 draws near, Tim Southee, the former Blackcaps bowler and captain, will find himself in an unfamiliar position, watching the tournament from the sidelines rather than playing. Having called time on his international career at the end of 2024, Southee will be absent from the team that is aiming to bring home the Champions Trophy for the first time since 2000. Alongside him, Trent Boult will also be missing from the squad. Despite this, Southee remains confident that New Zealand’s blend of experience and youthful talent will stand them in good stead in Pakistan.
A Good Mix of Youth and Experience
Southee acknowledged that while the Blackcaps’ fast-bowling department might appear relatively inexperienced, there is plenty of strength in other areas of the team. The presence of seasoned players like Kane Williamson and captain Mitchell Santner, both of whom know how to succeed in big tournaments, brings valuable experience to the squad.
Southee said: “The way the team has played, different guys have stepped up. It’s a good mix between some experienced guys and some exciting young guys with a lot of potential. The experience of this Tri-Nation Series is only going to stand them in good stead for the tournament. Taking momentum into the tournament and being accustomed to those conditions is only going to be a good thing.”
Williamson’s Form Brings Calm to the Team
Southee also praised Kane Williamson for his return to form after not playing much one-day cricket in recent years. The Blackcaps’ star has contributed significantly in the warm-up Tri-Nation Series, showing that his class and calmness at the crease remain intact.
“Kane is in good form. It’s nice to see him with a couple of scores. He’s obviously class. He’s not played a lot of one-day cricket for the last few years, but to see him come back and have two significant contributions is what we’re used to seeing,” added Southee.
“When he is in the middle, he brings experience and looks in control the whole time. That’s what sets those four or five batters apart—they can sum up conditions and moments in games and more times than not, they come out on the right side of things. He brings a calmness to the group.”
Mitchell Santner: The Calm Captain
Southee also spoke highly of Mitchell Santner, the current captain of the Blackcaps. While still relatively new to the role, Santner has shown great leadership qualities and remains calm under pressure.
“Mitch has done a great job as captain. It’s still reasonably new to him, but I experienced a bit of his captaincy towards the end of my career. He’s very calm, you see that in the way he plays his cricket. He thinks about the game well and leads by example in all three areas. He’s one of the best fielders, an unbelievably skilful bowler, and a more than useful batter, so I’m sure he’ll lead in all those three areas.”
Rising Stars: Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith
As New Zealand enters the post-Southee and Boult era, there will be increased responsibility on rising stars like Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith to lead the charge. O’Rourke impressed with four wickets in the Tri-Nation final against Pakistan, showing his potential as a key player for New Zealand in the future.
“Will O’Rourke has impressed in Test cricket, and he’s still so young but has all the attributes to succeed at the international level,” said Southee. “He’s a man of few words but listens well and wants to get better. Nathan Smith has a real confidence about him and believes in himself, which is crucial at this level.”
Southee also believes that O’Rourke’s exposure to conditions in the Tri-Nation Series will be a great learning experience for him. “Will has great pace and bounce, along with fantastic skills. His game is far from finished, but he’s definitely going to be a massive asset to New Zealand cricket.”
A Realistic Chance for New Zealand to Lift the Trophy
As the Blackcaps enter the Champions Trophy 2025, Southee remains optimistic about their chances. He believes that New Zealand’s consistent performances in ICC events over the years make them strong contenders.
“If you look at the track record of New Zealand in ICC events, they are always there or thereabouts,” said Southee. “In a tournament like the Champions Trophy, if you get on a bit of a roll, anything can happen. I’d love to see the Blackcaps there and hopefully lifting the trophy at the end.
