Southee in rude health

Tim Southee's five wickets put him in line for a recall

Tim Southee put the frustrations of injury and sickness behind him with his third five-wicket haul to put himself in good heart for next week’s Trent Bridge Test.

The 19-year-old seamer finished day two against Northamptonshire with a significant rival for the headlines, after the hosts’ David Wigley had taken three wickets in three balls to leave the Kiwis 38 for three in their second innings.

But the tourists still held sway at Wantage Road, where Southee’s 5-42 was most significantly responsible for Northants’ pallid reply of 214 for nine to 363.

Southee’s fellow pace bowler Kyle Mills took 3-41 - including the wickets of Johann Louw (82) and Niall O’Brien (60).

But the best news for the Kiwis was the obvious well-being of the teenager, who missed the Old Trafford Test with a stomach bug and was kept out of the fray with a minor back injury before then.

“It’s been very frustrating, having to miss the last Test, and not having much match-situation bowling,” he said.

“There’s nothing you can do about it, except do your best when your chances come.It was just a bug that was around for a few days - but I’m all right now.”

Louw appeared to be New Zealand’s most testing opponent, until Wigley augmented his five-wicket first-innings haul to bag career-best match figures of 8-81 so far.

Southee gave Louw due credit for an adventurous innings which contained five sixes and seven fours - but remains confident New Zealand can still press home their advantage, despite the late losses to Wigley.

“He swung, and it went his way a bit. He ended up getting 80 - so fair play to him,” Southee said of Louw.

“It was obviously disappointing to lose three wickets before stumps. But we hope the guys in at the moment and the guys to come can push on.”

As for his own form, the signs are that Southee may be gearing up well to face England in Nottingham.

“It was good to get a few wickets under my belt, leading up to the next Test,” he added. “The rhythm felt fine, and everything was working well.”