The seamer will play against the Three Lions after recovering from a foot injury.
New Zealand seam bowler Tim Southee has been declared fit for his side’s first Test against England, which starts at Lord’s on Thursday.
Southee picked up a foot injury on day three of the Black Caps’ recent warm-up match with England Lions and sat out the rest of the game.
The seamer traveled to see a specialist in London over the weekend to determine how bad the injury was, but it has now been announced that the Kiwi will be fit to face the Three Lions.
“Tim is fine,” New Zealand coach head coach Mike Hesson said on ESPNcricinfo.
“It was very much a precautionary response from us to send Tim down to London for further investigations. He had some treatment on his toe and he is very comfortable and will be all right for the first Test.”
During the three match Test series against England back in New Zealand in March, Hesson and captain Brendon McCulllum did not change the starting XI once in order to give stability and confidence to the team.
Southee was a member of that unchanged side, which drew the series 0-0, and would have been a huge loss to the Black Caps this time around.
Hesson has also revealed that Southee’s fellow seamer Neil Wagner will be fit for the first Test as well, with the left-armer a doubt after breaking a toe nail.
Despite playing three fast bowling options during the home ties, it’s believed that New Zealand will opt for four in the overcast English conditions, with the ball having more chance of swinging.
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