"Least wickets, being the least effective and has been for quite some time"- Ian Smith calls for Tim Southee's axing after embarassing ENG series loss

Former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith called for veteran pacer Tim Southee to be dropped immediately following the side's embarrassing home series defeat to England. The 35-year-old had announced that the England series would be his finale in Tests for New Zealand.

However, the Black Caps have suffered back-to-back hammerings at England's hands in the opening Tests to concede the series with a Test remaining. Southee has been woefully out of form with only four wickets at an average of 61.50 and an economy of over 5 in the two Tests.

It led to Ian Smith questioning Southee playing his farewell Test in the series finale, considering his bowling slump.

Speaking on Sport Nation NZ, he said:

"Let’s put a full stop on this era, and use this next Test match as the start of a new one. Let’s start the next cycle, and just don’t give away opportunities to people who have given long service; you don’t do that. That’s what you get MBE and OBE’s for, but you don’t get given Test matches and five-day farewells. I’m afraid the player taking the least wickets, being the least effective - and has been for quite some time - has been Tim Southee, and he should go."

Southee has endured a dismal run in Tests this year, picking up only 15 wickets in 10 outings at an average of 61.66.

Yet, he is New Zealand's second all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests with 389 scalps in 106 matches.

"They’ve been humbled in their very own backyard to this worse extent" - Ian Smith

New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 3 - Source: Getty

Ian Smith called for radical changes in the New Zealand side following their embarrassing home series defeat to England.

The England series loss has also eliminated New Zealand from World Test Championship (WTC) final contention.

"It’s just not been good enough from a side that performed wonders, and now starts to feel like miracles in India just that short time ago. They’ve been humbled in their very own backyard to this worse extent. The upshot of this, is changes should be made to this New Zealand side because the World Test Championship is gone. The Crowe-Thorpe trophy, is gone," said Ian Smith.

New Zealand entered the England series on a high after completing a historic 3-0 away series whitewash against India last month.

They will look to avoid being on the wrong side of a 0-3 whitewash in the third Test against England, starting at Hamilton on December 14.