The England team will have a busy schedule in the upcoming home Test summer, with a five-match Test series against India and a one-off Test against Zimbabwe being a few of the series to look forward to. This will also be a big test for the Three Lions, who have been struggling in Test cricket for the last two seasons.

The England team has struggled in the World Test Championship so far, where they have not been in contention to get to the finals. The Three Lions finished fifth in the 2023-25 WTC cycle. The team will be missing the assistance of , who became the bowling consultant of the team after he retired from international cricket. However, due to his contract extension for Lancashire, whom he will represent across the domestic season, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has started to look for another player to take his place.

According to the reports, one of the individuals the board seems to be eyeing is inaugural WTC champion and recently retired New Zealand legend . The fact that the 36-year-old pacer has been great friends with current England head coach Brendon McCullum could be one of the factors that could lead the ECB to lean towards him.

If this move is successful, Southee could be the third Kiwi member in the coaching staff and management, alongside McCullum and spin bowling consultant cum assistant coach Jeetan Patel, and could join the English side from as early as the series against India.

Speaking of Southee’s record in Test cricket, he has taken 391 wickets in the 107 Test matches he has represented the New Zealand team at an average of 30.26. This also makes him the second-highest wicket taker for the Kiwis in red-ball internationals as well. Southee is the highest wicket taker for New Zealand across all formats, taking 776 wickets in 394 games.