Thaindian News

Wellington, Mar 27 (ANI): New Zealand’s bowling coach Allan Donald believes that Tim Southee could become the best swing bowler in world cricket within the next 12 months.

The South African legend has been working as the bowling coach at the World Cup after signing a short-term contract in January with New Zealand Cricket.

Since starting to work with Donald, Southee has improved out of sight and before Friday’s quarterfinal in Dhaka had taken 21 wickets in his last 11 matches.

The 22-year-old is bowling with an aggression that was once missing from his game and Donald said he had all the attributes to become a great cricketer.

“When I sat in my hotel room in Christchurch when I first arrived in New Zealand to start my job, I sat there for about three days and watched Tim operate against Pakistan [in the second test at the Basin Reserve],” Donald told Sunday News.

“I know the wicket was very flat but I just liked straight away what he offered. The first thing I said to him when I met him was - ‘I want you to take the responsibility of leading this attack. As young as you are, I want you to take that responsibility because you could become the best swing bowler in world cricket in the next year or so’.

“I want you to believe that but also it’s what you do on the field and off the field that will determine the respect you get,” Donald said.

Donald said that while it was still early days, Southee had embraced his methods and seemed as if he was finally starting to believe in his own abilities.

After the World Cup, Donald will return to South Africa. His contract with New Zealand Cricket will be up but he’s already commenced talks with CEO Justin Vaughan to stay on. Stuff.co.nz reports.

Coach John Wright and the players want him to stay and Donald said he felt his work with the New Zealand bowlers was unfinished. (ANI)