12 Mar 2012

Southee dropped from second test side

1:45 pm on 12 March 2012

The Northern Districts pace bowler Tim Southee has been dropped from the New Zealand cricket side for the second test against South Africa, beginning in Hamilton on Thursday.

Southee, who's played 16 tests, struggled in the drawn first test in Dunedin, failing to take a wicket in the 36 overs he bowled and averages a disappointing 41 runs for each of the 42 test wickets he's taken.

New Zealand Cricket's selection manager Kim Littlejohn says Southee will return to the Plunket Shield competition.

He's been replaced in the 14 strong squad by Wellington's Mark Gillespie, who played the last of his three tests against the West Indies over three years ago.

Also included coming into the squad is Central Districts leg spinner, Taurn Nethula who's yet to play a test.