Kiwis aim to improve consistency: Southee

Auckland, Jan 24 (IANS) Fast bowler Tim Southee said New Zealand would aim to improve consistency as they aim for a series win against India when they face-off in the third ODI at the Eden Park here Saturday.

New Zealand lead the five-match series 2-0 and and Southee said the Black Caps have proved that on their day they are good enough to beat any team, including India, who lost their No.1 status after the loss in second ODI in Hamilton.

“We have always been competitive in limited-overs cricket. We have shown we can beat anyone on our day. It is the consistency we are starting to show. We are not where we want to be. We are starting to get there. Good sides win series consistently and that is where we want to get,” said Southee.

The fast bowler said the team management has given the liberty to all the players to play aggressively and that was evident from their wins in Napier and Hamilton, which were both keenly-contested matches.

“We are playing an aggressive, attacking style of cricket. That is the approach (captain) Brendon (McCullum) and (coach) Mike (hesson) have brought to this side.

“They have worked very well together and it is showing that we can go out there and play our natural game freely. We are a naturally exciting batting line-up and have got ball strikers all the way down. If they go out there and put the runs on the board as they have, it will allow us bowlers to be aggressive all the way through the innings,” he said.

Southee, however, feels that the Kiwis have to improve on their catching skills but was happy with the ground-fielding.

“We want to be the best fielding side in the world and have got some exceptional fielders. The likes of (Martin) Guptill and the two McCullums. And Jesse (Ryder) throws himself around as well. The bowlers work hard on it and it is important we have got ten guys and a wicketkeeper out there who can field,” he said.