Pace bowler Tim Southee looks set to play Australia at the end of the month after putting Northern Districts in control on the first day of their Plunket Shield cricket match against Wellington at Lincoln.
Southee took 7 for 37 as Wellington were bowled out for 162, Northern were 156 for 1 at stumps on day one.
Southee missed the tour of Zimbabwe because of a knee injury.
Also at Lincoln Central Districts are 49 for 1 in reply to Otago's first innings of 207 inwhich the Central legspinner Tarun Nethula took 6 for 32.
And test batsman Dean Brownlie is unbeaten on 112 with canterbury 324 for 5 batting first against Auckland in Rangiora.
